Latest news with #Markfed
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Jagan unfit for politics: Ministers
Addanki: Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and Energy Minister Gottipati Ravikumar launched a scathing attack on former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, calling him 'unfit for politics' and the 'most incompetent chief minister' among all chief ministers who served Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They inaugurated the black burley tobacco procurement centre and the swearing-in ceremony of the new committee members, including Telaprolu Ramesh as chairman, at the Agriculture Market Yard in Santhamaguluru on Wednesday. Speaking after the launch of the tobacco procurement centre, Minister Atachannaidu explained that the government has allocated about Rs 270 crore for the tobacco procurement through Markfed, marking the first time in the country's history that a state government has undertaken tobacco procurement directly. He said that the initiative is specifically taken up for the Black Burley tobacco farmers, who were facing market difficulties due to bumper harvests this year. Minister Gottipati explained that tobacco, cocoa, and mango crops achieved exceptionally high yields this year, leading to price drops in the market. The government stepped in to ensure farmers receive fair compensation, he said. Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Santhamaguluru Agricultural Market Committee, the ministers launched sharp criticism against Jagan. Atachannaidu called the former CM unfit for politics, and accused him of mentally harassing and jailing opposition leaders, including himself and the present CM, Chandrababu Naidu. He alleged that Jagan's government manufactured and sold liquor, embezzling Rs 32,000 crore through the scam. He criticised the earlier YSRCP government for neglect of projects like Polavaram, which was 70 percent complete but ignored for five years. Gottipati said that though TDP has 18 MLAs in the assembly, they fought against 154 YSRCP members for five years. He criticised Jagan for neglecting the 1000 MW Polavaram power project. The ministers explained to the public about the current government's welfare initiatives, including the pensions, Thalliki Vandanam, free gas cylinders, etc, and announced that the financial assistance programme for auto drivers is on the cards. They said that the benefits of Annadata Sukhibhava will be distributed by this month-end, while free bus travel for women will be launched on August 15. Atachannaidu also informed that the government is providing additional support for the cocoa and mango farmers. Minister Gottipati emphasised the contrast between the current and previous governments and announced that over Rs 3 crore had been invested in canal maintenance, major and minor irrigation repairs completed before the agricultural season, in the Addanki assembly constituency under the coalition government. He announced the construction of warehouses and chilli yards at identified places soon.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Bicycles to all govt high school students in Addanki
Addanki: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar announced that bicycles will be distributed to all government high school students in the Addanki constituency to reduce dropout rates and encourage education. With the help and support of donors, the minister distributed bicycles to 137 students at Zilla Parishad High School in Vellalacheruvu of Santhamaguluru on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, the minister explained that the bicycle distribution programme aims to encourage students toward high school education while reducing dropouts in government schools. He announced that they will provide bicycles to all boys and girls in government high schools within the Addanki constituency. Minister Gottipati emphasised that today's students will become excellent citizens for the state tomorrow only if they study well. He stressed that students should focus on their studies during their academic years and engage in politics at the appropriate time. He thanked his friends, various companies, and voluntary organisations like Assist for their financial support in distributing bicycles to students. The minister highlighted that Minister Lokesh has introduced several reforms in the education system to provide quality education to government school students in Andhra Pradesh. He observed that Minister Lokesh intends to separate politics from education. He said that students have already been provided with quality uniforms, shoes, bags, and books. The coalition government has no intention of using colours on the bags or other material, the minister noted. Minister Gottipati also participated in the 'Suparipalanalo Tholi Adugu' at the village and inaugurated CC roads and side drains constructed at Rs 30 lakh. He also inaugurated a new black burley tobacco purchase centre at Tammavaram of Korisapadu mandal in Bapatla district on Tuesday. He assured farmers not to worry and promised that the government would purchase tobacco up to the last leaf sent by farmers. The minister clarified that even low-grade tobacco rejected in the name of quality will be purchased through Markfed.
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
MLA inaugurates tobacco purchase centres
Parchur: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, moved by the plight of the Black Burley tobacco farmers, who were deceived by the private companies, stepped in to protect them with the direct purchase of the crop through Markfed, observed Parchur MLA Yeluri Sambasiva Rao. He inaugurated the tobacco purchase centres at Market Yard in Martur and Adusumalli of Yaddanapudi mandal on Monday. Speaking at the inaugural ceremonies, MLA Yeluri stated that CM Naidu was deeply moved by the farmers' plight and decided to intervene when private companies misled farmers about market demand and subsequently reduced purchase prices. For the first time in the country's history, the government is directly purchasing burley tobacco, he announced. The MLA said that the state government has allocated Rs 273 crore for the procurement through Markfed, ensuring that farmers' crops are purchased even when private companies fail to honour their commitments. He said that the initiative aims to protect farmers from exploitation by companies that previously encouraged excessive cultivation before reducing purchase quantities and prices. He advised the farmers to demand written agreements from companies before planting tobacco and suggested transitioning to alternative crops, noting that the government has announced a minimum support price of Rs 2,400 for maize with potential for further increases. In the evening, MLA Yeluri met with the agriculture minister, Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, the special secretary of the agriculture department, Rajasekhar, and other officials at the Regional Agriculture Research Station in Lam. After the meeting, the MLA said that they are prioritising farmers with production below 20 quintals for immediate purchase, followed by those with larger quantities. He announced that the government has assured the establishment of additional purchase centres and warehouses to expedite the procurement process.
Hans India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Hassle-free procurement of tobacco assured
Ongole: Prakasam district in-charge collector Ronanki Gopalakrishna assured tobacco farmers that the state government is taking all necessary measures to prevent losses to cultivators and emphasised that farmers need not worry about the procurement process. Gopalakrishna visited the tobacco procurement centre at Garlapadu village in Maddipadu mandal on Wednesday to inspect the ongoing tobacco purchasing operations. During his visit, he interacted with farmers to understand the procurement process and address any concerns. He gathered comprehensive information about the quantity of tobacco brought to the procurement centre, adherence to scheduled procurement timelines, storage facilities, and capacity for tobacco bales, cash payment procedures for farmers post-procurement, and overall procurement methodology from the officials and the farmers. The collector observed that the HD Burley tobacco procurement has been ongoing for 15 days at the Garlapadu centre through the Markfed. He said that about 360 metric tons of tobacco, worth Rs 3 crore, have been purchased from 110 farmers. He assured that the procurement will continue until September. He explained that farmers must register their names in the app before bringing their tobacco to the procurement centres. Following registration, Markfed will purchase tobacco from farmers according to the designated schedule, he added. Emphasising the importance of quality, the collector noted that farmers should bring properly graded tobacco bales as per government guidelines. He assured that Markfed will procure all tobacco that meets the specified standards. He announced that the state government is implementing all necessary measures to benefit tobacco farmers through the procurement process and urged the farmers not to have any concerns about the initiative. Ongole Revenue Divisional Officer Lakshmi Prasanna, Markfed DM Harikrishna, Maddipadu tahsildar Adilakshmi, and other district officials participated in the programme.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Madhya Pradesh govt to waive penalty if irrigation tax dues are paid by March 2026; 35 lakh farmers to benefit
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh state government, during a cabinet meeting chaired by CM Dr Mohan Yadav on Wednesday, decided to waive penalty on unpaid irrigation water tax for all farmers. Interest amount totalling to Rs 84 crore is expected to be waived. If farmers pay the principal amount of their total outstanding dues by March 31, 2026, the interest amount will be waived. As of March 31, 2025, total outstanding dues were Rs 647.67 crore (principal Rs 563.29 crore and interest Rs 84.17 crore). The government expects to waive Rs 84.17 crore in interests (penalty). The decision is likely to benefit around 35 lakh farmers across the state. The cabinet also approved procurement of summer moong and urad crops under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) of the Government of India for the rabi marketing years 2023–24 to 2025–26. Free government guarantee for excess procurement beyond targets for Rabi 2024–25 was also approved. The MP State Cooperative Marketing Federation (Markfed) will be the designated procurement agency.
