The Hindu : 50 pc subsidy sought on groundnut seed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 30, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

50 pc subsidy sought on groundnut seed

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR May 29. The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham affiliated to the CPI has demanded that the State Government supply six lakhs quintals of groundnut seed required in Anantapur district to farmers on 50 per cent subsidy.

A delegation of the APRS visited the godowns of the AP Oilfed and AP Seeds Corporation here on Thursday to inspect the groundnut seed stocks. They also discussed with the managers of the two units. The Oilfed Deputy Manager, Ramesh Reddy, said they had procured one lakh quintals of groundnut seed. The District Manager of the AP Seeds Corporation, A. Prabhakar Reddy, said that they had procured 83,000 quintals and would acquire 17,000 quintals soon.

Talking to newspersons at the godowns the APRS State secretary, K. Ramakrishna, said the Government had fixed the rate of JL-24 variety seed groundnut at Rs. 26.90 per kg including Rs. 2 handling charges and Rs. 26.50 per kg for TMV-2 variety. After deducting subsidy the seed would be available to the farmers at Rs. 21.60 and Rs. 22 per kg, respectively.

He, however, said the farmers were not in a position to pay such an exorbitant rate to the groundnut seed, which, he said, was available at Rs. 18.60 per kg in the open market. He demanded that the Government supply both varieties of groundnut seed at Rs. 12.50 per kg, as the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had announced 50 per cent subsidy on seed at Mahanadu.

Mr. Ramakrishna explained that out of 10 lakhs quintals of groundnut seed required for the district the farmers were in a position to procure about four lakh quintals including purchases from the open market. But, out of the remaining six lakh quintals the Government was ready to supply only two lakh quintals.

He requested the Government to procure the remaining four lakh quintals and also disburse the crop insurance and input subsidy for the crop loss suffered during 2002 kharif before the commencement of seed sales. He urged the Government to supply the seed sufficient for five acres instead of 1.5 acres as planned now.

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