Complete 4200 godown constructions within one year: CM Jagan

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Jagan Reddy has directed the officials to complete the 4,200 godowns project, set at a cost of Rs 2700 crore, within a year so as to improve the functioning of the Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs).

He was chairing the Agri Infra Fund Projects review meeting at his camp office in Tadepalli on Thursday.

Agri-marketing officials informed the chief minister that the godowns project would be bankrolled by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). It has agreed in principle to fund the project.

When the officials said 1165 godowns were sanctioned under the first phase, the CM asked them to complete the entire project on a war-footing mode.

“Andhra Pradesh’s brainchild, RBK, is being spoken about at global forums. These godowns are required for improving its functioning,” said the chief minister.

The Department of Agriculture has stated that Kisan Drones would be used in 2000 RBKs in the state at a total cost of Rs 200 crore. These RBKs are being identified on various criteria – like, input-intensive crops are growing higher in number. They also told the CM that they are identifying and training personnel to use the drones.

Collection centres and cold rooms that are being established throughout the state would be completed by December. Food processing units and millet processing units would be completed in a phased manner, officials said.

Dairy Development Corporation (APDDC) officials said milk procurement in the state has increased. “The number of farmers selling milk to our centres has also increased. Private dairy producers are not transferring the promised payment to the farmers unlike APDDC, and action has been taken in over 70 cases.

CM Jagan said farmers should know the quality of the milk before selling it to private diaries so that they don’t get duped. “In all RBKs, we should establish a testing facility in line with soil testing so that farmers would know the quality of their produce.”

He asked officials to tie up Amul kiosks with Self-Help Groups(SHGs) at the RBK level.

The CM reviewed the works of the departments of Horticulture, Fisheries and Agriculture and directed the officials to complete the project within the stipulated time.

The CM will visit Muramalla village of Konaseema District on May 13 to inaugurate the `YSR Matsyakara Bharosa’’ programme. He will arrive at Komaragiri Helipad in I.Polavaram Mandal by 10.20 am and interact with the people from 10.20 am to 10.35 am. He will start releasing the amounts to be credited to the fishermen's accounts vis-à-vis the Matyaskara Bharosa-distribution of Ban Relief (2022) and inclusive development-livelihood support to affected fishermen by ONGC. He will leave the village by 12.30 pm for his residence.