Krishna district readies space for paddy storage

Krishna district is readying space for storage of paddy this kharif season. Towards this, the administration has cleared old stock from godowns of Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), AP Civil Supplies Corporation and the state marketing department.

Till recently, the state had only 500,000 tonnes capacity available, against the total capacity of 4 million tonnes. Due to lack of storage space, millers had refused to begin procurement and insisted that the government provide space for storage.

The government, after holding talks with the millers and officials, directed the districts to go for new godowns and also clear the existing stocks. Accordingly, the Krishna district administration took up repairs at several places and also secured additional space from FCI, CWC and marketing storage points.

“We have been given space for storage of 80,000 tonnes in FCI godowns, 20,000 tonnes in CWC godowns and 10,000 tonnes in market yard godowns in Krishna district,” said district joint collector Gaurav Uppal. The FCI had agreed to provide additional space for 40,000 tonnes from the neighbouring Guntur district.

He said the district had a storage capacity of over 150,000 tonnes and would create an equal capacity by December. In addition, the FCI godowns have over 100,000 tonnes of boiled rice stored, which is to be exported to Bangladesh.

“The price has to be decided and it would be cleared in the next 15 days. If the boiled rice is shifted, it would give us 150,000 tonnes additional storage capacity,” he added.

Chief minister K Rosaiah has also directed the AP Civil Supplies Corporation and the self-help groups of the Indira Kranti Patham to take up procurement and ensure that the farmers are paid the minimum support price in the light of millers’ threat.