Minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao explained that maize was cultivated in about 16.37 lakh acres and at an average yield of 26.57 quintals per acre the production was estimated at about 43.49 lakh tonnes.
| Photo Credit: Rao G N
HYDERABADMinister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao on Sunday stated that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has taken a decision to allot ₹1,800 crore more for procurement of maize in addition to ₹4,000 crore allotted already for the purpose since the Centre has not responded to the State’s pleas to take up procurement of maize and include the crop under price support scheme.In a statement, he said it was also decided at Saturday’s Cabinet meeting that procurement of sunflower would be enhanced to beyond 25% of the total produce this season, the quantity fixed by the Centre, and also complete procurement of jowar so that farmers were not left to the mercy of traders.He explained that maize was cultivated in about 16.37 lakh acres and at an average yield of 26.57 quintals per acre the production was estimated at about 43.49 lakh tonnes. To ensure support price to farmers the government had already provided guarantee of ₹4,173 crore to banks for raising loans by Markfed and it was decided to extend guarantee for another ₹1,867 crore for procuring another 6.53 lakh tonnes. With the help of 354 purchase centres, about 12.85 lakh tonnes of maize was already procured from 2.33 lakh farmers.
