SANGAREDDY: Irrigation minister T Harish Rao has directed officials on Monday to open a cotton procurement centres in all districts from October 14 and ensure minimum support price for farmers.
Holding discussions with district collectors, joint collectors and marketing department officials through video conferencing facility from Hyderabad, the minister reviewed the arrangements for cotton procurement centres and directed to ensure payment of minimum support price to the farmers.
Principal secretary for departments of Agriculture and marketing C Parthasaradhi and marketing department director Sharath were also present. The minister reviewed the arrangements for cotton procurement in Medak district and opined that a cotton procurement centre is required at Narayankhed. He suggested to run the procurement centre for three days each at Jogipet and Narayankhed.
The minister also said that he would try to be present at the inaugural of the procurement centre in Narayankhed on October 14. He said the marketing department has completed autioning of shops in Jogipet. The procurement centre in Zahirabad will be inaugurated by the MP, he added.
Harish Rao directed the officials to look into the complaint that some hostels in Medak district are not receiving BPT variety rice. Joint collector P Venkatram Reddy informed that procurement centres have started functioning in Gajwel and Siddipet.
Expecting arrival of huge quantity of cotton at the centre, the district administration has deputed revenue staff to the centre. He said ID card are being distributed to the cotton farmers in the district and the process will be completed in two days. The joint collector also said that IKP centres are provided with tarpaulins. Marketing department AD Santoshkumar, CCI officials and marketing officials were present at the conference.