CM reiterates appeal to ryots

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 11. The Chief Minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has appealed to farmers to shift from paddy to irrigated dry crops in the coming rabi season, keeping in view the difficulty in supplying power during summer months and the unremunerative prices farmers were getting for rice in the kharif season.

In his "dial your CM" programme, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said that this year there was a bumper crop in rice all over the Country, but farmers are preparing to raise paddy in 3,50,000 hectares in the rabi also. He said by shifting to oilseeds and other dry crops, underground water resources can be preserved and the market will stabilise next year.

The Chief Minister said the Government had so far given Rs 30 crores to Nizam Sugar Factory in Bodhan towards purchase of cane from farmers, but the factory was incurring losses. There is going to be a shortfall of 8 Million Units of power in December, rising to 16 MU in January, 13.8 MU in February, 21 MU in March and 19 MU in April. The Government wants to buy power from wherever it was available at higher cost, so as to give nine hours supply to farmers, but farmers should also cooperate by raising ID crops in rabi, he added.

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Section  : Southern States
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