Work in Tandem with New CMR Policy, Millers Told

Bhadadri-Kothagudem: Principal secretary and civil supplies commissioner D. S. Chauhan on Tuesday asked rice millers to cooperate with the government in implementation of the new procurement policy and custom milling rice (CMR) system formulated to benefit both the millers and farmers in the state.

Speaking at a meeting of rice millers in Udhayaditya Bhavan of district collectorate, he said the sole aim of the new procurement policy is to avoid problems of farmers in selling their crop as well as in custom milling by rice millers. Bonus of Rs 500 per quintal would be extended for paddy of fine variety of rice in addition to Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Reminding that milling charges for rice millers were increased four times, he said paddy would be allocated to rice millers for custom milling only with a bank guarantee (BG) of 10 per cent of the amount. The BG would be released immediately after supply of CMR to the government. He said pending milling and transport charges would be cleared as early as possible. Officials and millers should work in tandem to materialise the objective of the state government to supply fine rice to 2.8 crore ration card holders in the state.

He complimented officials and rice millers for making Nalgonda come on top in custom milling in the last kharif and rabi seasons as CMR of kharif season was completed 99 per cent while CMR of rabi was completed 75 per cent. He asked the millers to complete the remaining target at the earliest.

Nodal officer (paddy procurement) of erstwhile Nalgonda district Anitha Ramachandran underlined the need to take measures to avoid inconvenience to farmers at PPCs. He asked officials to make available adequate number of lorries and trucks for transportation of paddy from PPCs to mills.

District Rice Millers Association president Narayana sought immediate release of milling charges to the rice millers. He urged the government to fix the out turn ratio for fine rice varieties.

Chauhan inspected PPCs of PACS at Arjalabavi in the district and asked the farmers about the facilities being provided to them.