Latest news with #Markfed
Hans India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Traders warned against diversion of urea
Eluru: District collector K Vetriselvi has warned that legal action will be taken against shop owners if urea is diverted for purposes other than agriculture. A district-level review meeting was held at the Collectorate here on Thursday with representatives from fertiliser manufacturers, wholesalers, retail dealers, agriculture, cooperatives, Markfed, DCMS and others. Collector Vetriselvi and joint collector P Dhatri Reddy participated in the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Vetriselvi said that the district administration is ready to supply all the required fertilisers in the district. Dealers should act responsibly without causing any trouble to the farmers. She warned that strict action will be taken against those who stock fertilisers illegally, sell them at high prices, and engage in black marketing. Teams comprising agriculture department officials have been formed to conduct surprise inspections on fertiliser shops and warehouses. The collector clarified that it is not allowed to store unauthorised fertilisers and pesticides in shops. There will be special vigilance on this matter so that the fertilizers specified for the district cannot be diverted. While selling fertilisers to meet the needs of the farmers, the relevant documents should be checked and sold through biometrics. The fertiliser movement plan should be strictly implemented. Farmers should be made aware of the problems arising due to the use of fertilisers beyond the limit. Farmers should be sensitised on integrated nutrient management with nano fertilizers and nano fertilisers should be promoted. Drones have been made available in large numbers in the district and they should be encouraged. Dealers have a social responsibility to provide timely fertilisers to farmers so that there is no shortage of fertilisers in Kharif. The supply of urea and other fertilisers to aquaculture should be controlled. Necessary monthly plan should be implemented to supply fertilizers until November, she said. Joint collector Dhatri Reddy said that records of fertilizer and pesticide stocks should be maintained. They should be checked by the Mandal Agriculture Department officials. Fertilisers should be provided to farmers on the basis of eCRAFT registration and biometrics. Fertilisers should be provided to farmers without any hassle. Eluru AMC Chairman Mamillapalli Parthasarathy, District Agriculture Officer Habib Basha, Markfed DM Prasad Gupta, DCO Srinivas, several fertilizer manufacturers, wholesale and retail dealers, DCMS and Agriculture Department officials participated in the meeting.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Govt bans cultivation of Black Burley for current agricultural season
GUNTUR: Bapatla District Collector J Venkata Murali has announced a complete ban on the cultivation of Black Burley tobacco for the current agricultural season, citing falling prices and reduced company purchases that have impacted farmers. Speaking at a review meeting held at the Collectorate on Wednesday, attended by officials from Markfed, the Agriculture Department, and private buyers, the Collector said the move aims to protect farmers from further losses. 'In recent years, excess production due to corporate assurances has led to sharp price drops, hurting farmer income. Many companies have now withdrawn from procurement,' he said. The Collector warned that even raising seedlings in nurseries is prohibited. Violators will face strict action, including crop destruction and possible legal consequences. Farmers who have already cultivated the crop can sell it to private buyers, but are advised not to bring bundles with more than 20% moisture content to procurement centres. The Bapatla Colelctor assured tobacco farmers of full government support, stating, 'We are committed to ensuring that every last leaf is sold. Trust the administration and don't fall prey to fear.'
Hans India
17-07-2025
- 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
16-07-2025
- 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.
