State swings into action to improve red gram production

Concerned over rising prices of red gram in the State, the government is coming up with an action plan to improve the production and ensure supply of the commodity at competitive price.

Days after the price of red gram touched Rs.210 a kg, the government swung into action and started supplying it at a subsidized rate of Rs.120 a kg in wholesale and Rs.123 a kg in retail market. In order to prevent a similar situation next year, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu convened a meeting with officials from Agriculture, Marketing and Civil Supplies departments a few weeks ago to chalk out a plan to ensure supply of pulses at a reasonable rate.

Accordingly, authorities from three departments, after conducting meetings, have decided to increase acreage by encouraging farmers. Factors affecting the production of pulses would also be addressed on a priority basis by conducting meetings regularly.

The acreage in the State in 2010-11 was 6.38 lakh hectares while production was 2.65 lakh tonnes and yield 415 kg per hectare. It fell to 4.48 lakh hectares with a production of 2.43 lakh tonnes and yield of 542 kg per hectare in 2013-14. According to advance estimate in 2014-15, the acreage was 3.71 lakh hectares while production was 1.65 lakh tonnes and yield 445 kg per hectare, officials said.

“If our plans fructify, we will implement the action plan from next rabi,” a senior official said, adding seeds would be distributed in sufficient quantity to help farmers grow pulses.

Another issue that officials are considering seriously is maintaining buffer stock in order to release it whenever there is crisis. Officials said while production was 60,000 tonnes in the State consumption was 2.50 lakh tonnes and this gap in the demand and supply was leading to rise in prices of pulses.

State Civil Supplies Corporation MD K. Ramgopal said a proposal was mooted to maintain enough stock of essential commodities. “If there is shortage in market, we can release them as and when required. It will help us in controlling the prices,” he said.

According to dal millers, red gram stocks arrive from Tandur and Vikarabad in Ranga Reddy district, Sangareddy, Zaheerabad and Sadasivapet in Medak district, and Suryapet in Nalgonda. Fresh stocks from Krishna and Guntur districts enter the market between February and March and thereafter arrivals from Maharashtra, UP and Karnataka reach the market.

Source : The Hindu