IKP groups set record, procure 19 tonne paddy

HYDERABAD: For the first time in the country, members of Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) groups in the state procured a record volume of 19 tonnes of foodgrains from farmers during the Rabi season. The procurement will continue for another two weeks.  Government agencies and millers have procured about 75 lakh tonnes during the Rabi season so far and about 30 per cent of the stock has been procured by government departments.According to officials, government departments procured a record 19 lakh tonnes from farmers this year as against 6 lakh tonnes procured during the corresponding period last year. A whopping amount of Rs 1,200 crore has been paid to the farmers for their produce and payment of the minimum support price (MSP) has been ensured.At a meeting held here on Tuesday to discuss Rabi grain procurement, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed officials that arrears of payments to farmers should be released within four days. He also wanted top officials to immediately shift foodgrains which were stored temporarily in government school buildings.