Andhra govt released Rs 1000 crores procurement dues to farmers, says Minister Nadendla Manohar

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], July 4 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar has said that Rs 1000 crores were released to farmers out of dues worth Rs 1,600 crores under the previous YSRCP government. He also alleged that the previous government, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, had left farmers in the lurch with more than Rs 1600 crores in dues.

Speaking to the media, Nadendla Manohar said, “Even in so much distress, we were able to release Rs 1000 crore out of Rs 1600 crore, which is due to the farmers as their immediate requirement. In the coming days, we will release balance of Rs 650 crore to the farmers to make sure that they are geared up for the next season and can cultivate their crops. Additionally, to clean up the system, we have targeted areas where rice exports are happening. The Public Distribution System (PDS) is meant for poor people. Huge quantities of rice is being illegally exported after procuring it at lower prices. In Kakinada, we have seized 35,404 metric tonnes of rice, in which the rice meant for PDS was being used for export to African countries. We will ensure PDS through fair-price shop dealers.”

He further alleged that the previous YSRCP government led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had taken loans worth 36,300 crores from the Civil Supplies department.

He further went on to say that the new government in Andhra Pradesh is focused on providing benefits to farmers and consumers.

“Ever since our new government has come in Andhra Pradesh, we have focused a lot on what we can do to benefit farmers as well as consumers. In the civil supplies department, we have looked at how rice procurement from farmers can be done more effectively through the use of technology and how we can reduce the payment gap for farmers. Unfortunately, the previous YSRCP government led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy have taken loans worth 36,300 crores from the department. They left the farmers in the lurch and they have left behind Rs Rs 1,600 crore of unpaid dues of paddy we have procured from the farmers.”