AMARAVATI : Cropping pattern , chiefly with the regards to paddy cultivation , set to witness a major transformation as the government has decided not to procure the varieties , which are not consumed in the state . At the same time, farmer are being encouraged to cultivate only varieties, which are consumed.
The decision to stop procurement of certain varieties of paddy comes in the wake of chief minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy insisting on supplying quality rice to (below poverty line) BPL cardholder through the public distribution system (PDS).
The move is expected to benefit all stakeholders in the supply chain -management, farmer, BPL cardholders and the government. While the farmers are expected to get better prices for their produce, consumer will be getting quality rice. It will also help the government counter allegation of poor quality of rice being supplied to the poor. In fact, it is believed that owners of mills, ration dealers and politicians take advantage of the inferior quality of rice to indulge in corruption and make money.
Taking stock of the current situation , the state government found out that over 30% of the rice, distributed through PDS , is not consumed.
“The farmer cultivated certain varieties of paddy as the government has been procuring whatever they produced. But there is no point in procuring varieties, which are not so popular among even after getting it at highly subsidised prices.”
Commisioner Kona Sasidhar, He, however, was confident that farmers are ready to shift to new varieties.
Meanwhile , the YS Jaganmohan Reddy government has directed district collectors to guide farmers with regard to changing their cropping pattern and extending whatever help they need with regard to it.
