PACSs should play an active role in paddy procurement

PNS|ELURU

District Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh has said that Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACSs) should play an active role in purchasing paddy from farmers. The meeting of the District Agricultural Advisory Council was held in the Gautami meeting hall of the district Collector’s office presided over by the chairman of the agricultural advisory board Vejju Venkateswara Rao on Friday.

Speaking on this occasion, Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh said that the government had taken steps to procure paddy from the farmers in the Kharif season. The Collector directed the officials to keep available enough gunny bags for paddy procurement as per requirement at the RBKs. It is advised to utilize them in the rotation method. As soon as 90 percent of the paddy collection target is reached, the need for additional targets should be identified and information should be given to the higher authorities, the Collector told the officials. He made it clear that sufficient funds are available for hiring lorries and there should be no delay in the payment.

The details of the lorries with the rice millers should also be collected and used for transportation. The Collector clarified that the moisture content of paddy measured at RBKs is the final. If the farmers face any problems in selling grain, they should inform the control room number 1800 425 6453. Within 12 hours of receiving the complaint, teams will be sent to the respective areas and steps will be taken to identify and solve the problem.

The Collector said that the survey has been completed in connection with the electricity subsidy to aqua. However, the officials of the Fisheries Department have been directed to organize village-level meetings in each village to determine the aqua zone, and non-aqua zone in the concerned aqua sector area. Later, related proposals will be sent to the government.MLA Pratap Appa Rao said that a special horticulture officer should be made available for Nuzvid which is a horticulture hub. In this area where the oil farm, especially the mango plantations are extensive, necessary awareness programs should be undertaken for the farmers and steps should be taken to solve their problems.