AP to get 2L tonnes of duty-free maize

Vijayawada: Union minister for finance Nirmala Sitharaman has assured the import of two lakh tonnes of maize under a tariff rate quota (TRQ) without import duty, benefiting poultry farmers in Andhra Pradesh.

AP BJP chief and Rajamahendravaram Lok Sabha member D. Purandeswari led a delegation of poultry farmers from AP in a meeting with the Union Minister in Delhi on Monday. She submitted a representation requesting the allocation of the maize for the captive consumption of poultry in the state.

The MP informed the Union Minister that Andhra Pradesh has nearly five crore poultry, with 3,000 farmers directly involved in raising them, and about 10 lakh people depending on this sector for their livelihoods. The Minister's assurance prompted gratitude from both the MP and the poultry farmers.