Latest news with #MARKFED
Hans India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Govt launches procurement through MARKFED
Parchur: Minister for agriculture Kinjarapu Atchannaidu assured farmers that the state government will purchase Black Burley tobacco crops until the last leaf, urging them not to fear or be deceived. The minister, along with local MLA Yeluri Sambasiva Rao, inaugurated the Black Burley tobacco procurement centre by MARKFED at the Agricultural Market Yard in Parchur on Thursday. The programme marks the first time in state history that the government is directly procuring the Black Burley tobacco. The government will purchase HDR and HDM grade black burley tobacco at Rs 12000 per quintal, and HDX grade at Rs 6000 per quintal through MARKFED. Minister Achennaidu appreciated the efforts of MLA Yeluri Sambasiva Rao for bringing the plight of the Black Burley tobacco farmers to the government's notice. He explained that the government stepped in as companies that initially pressured farmers to cultivate black burley tobacco abandoned them when the harvest arrived. He announced that the state has established five procurement centres across the region and expects to provide approximately Rs 500 crore in cash to the tobacco farmers. The government plans to procure 20 million kilograms of Black Burley tobacco, with funds already approved by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Atchannaidu emphasised that farmers should focus on alternative crops in the upcoming Kharif season to avoid a similar crisis, and said that the state may not purchase the leaf next year. MLA Yeluri Sambasiva Rao described this as a courageous decision by the coalition government aimed at protecting farmers. He noted that tobacco cultivation is predominantly practiced by farmers in the Parchur constituency, and the government has provided them with mountain-like support. He advised farmers to cultivate crops according to government decisions and move forward with government planning. He said that the government plans to develop new policies based on market demand, land suitability, and climatic balance to determine appropriate crop cultivation. Agriculture Department Special Chief Secretary B Rajasekhar noted that the Chief Minister reviews the farmers' crisis every two days, demonstrating the government's commitment to agricultural welfare. District Collector J Venkata Murali said that the procurement process will be conducted entirely online, with farmers receiving SMS notifications about when and how much produce to bring to the warehouses.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Black Burley tobacco procurement resumes in Andhra Pradesh
GUNTUR: BAPATLA District Collector J Venkata Murali on Wednesday directed officials to resume procurement of Black Burley tobacco in Bapatla district starting Thursday, following concerns over falling prices and growing distress among farmers. The decision was taken at a review meeting with Agriculture and MARKFED officials at the ETC Conference Hall in the Collectorate. Acting on Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu's instructions, the State government has introduced a dedicated 'CM App' to streamline procurement. Only farmers registered through this app—linked with e-Crop and APAMS data—will be eligible for tobacco sales. The government has sanctioned Rs 300 crore to procure up to 25 million kilograms of Black Burley tobacco through MARKFED. Procurement centres will operate at two locations in Parchur and one in Chirala. The fixed procurement price is Rs 12,000 per quintal for HDR and HDM varieties and Rs 3,000 per quintal for HDX. A control room with a toll-free helpline (8331057095) will function in Parchur from 6 AM to 8 PM to address farmer grievances and ensure smooth operations. The Collector criticised Agriculture Department officials over irregularities in crop registration. Although Black Burley tobacco was cultivated in 67,132 acres, only 50,513 acres were recorded in the e-Crop system, covering 28,019 farmers. He instructed officials to upload complete data within a week and warned of strict action for lapses during the current Kharif season. Parchur MLA Eluri Sambasiva Rao highlighted that, for the first time, the government is directly procuring tobacco to support farmers. Bapatla MLA Vegesna Narendra Varma reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring fair prices and safeguarding farmer interests. MARKFED Managing Director Manajeer Zilani Saman and other senior officials participated in the meeting and later visited the Parchur market yard to review arrangements.
India Today
10-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Advance Kharif cycle to shield crops from cyclone: Chandrababu Naidu to officials
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed agriculture officials to advance the crop season to safeguard Kharif crops from cyclone damage. During a review meeting at the Undavalli camp office, he was informed that the Agriculture Department has already begun releasing irrigation water to farmlands in the Godavari and Krishna delta is currently reaching West Godavari, Eluru, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada and Krishna districts. Guntur, Bapatla, and Prakasam districts will start receiving irrigation supply in the first week of Kharif crops include paddy, red gram, groundnut and cotton. While groundnut and cotton acreage has dropped, red gram cultivation has risen, and paddy levels remain steady. The Chief Minister noted that Andhra Pradesh has experienced 14 cyclones in the past 20 years - five in October, six in November, and three in December - with October storms especially affecting north coastal regions and East Godavari. To mitigate such risks, he stressed the need to cultivate three crops a instructed officials to prepare for the cultivation of summer crops across five lakh acres next year in north coastal Andhra, Godavari, and Krishna delta regions. In districts like Anantapur, where farmland lies fallow for eight months annually, Chief Minister Naidu urged using that period for additional crops to improve soil fertility and farmer income. Officials have been tasked with preparing 141 mandals for summer farming - 19 with reservoirs, 57 with tanks, and 65 relying on Naidu encouraged promoting fine varieties of paddy and advised widening bunds in paddy fields to support intercropping of fruits and vegetables. He suggested that these bunds could be constructed using NREGS funds. He also promoted aquaculture and horticulture on the periphery of or between paddy plots to boost tobacco procurement, officials said that HD Burley tobacco purchases had begun at the Parchur AMC and that farmers were satisfied. The government is also encouraging a shift to alternative crops. Procurement of cocoa and mango was also new services - crop insurance, agricultural mechanisation, and MARKFED - have been launched on the Mana Mitra WhatsApp platform, giving farmers easier access. The CM directed officials to raise both online and offline awareness about these also called for reduced use of fertilisers and pesticides to protect soil fertility. Last year, 39 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers were used; this year, the target is 35 lakh metric tonnes. He also emphasised increasing the area under pulses and millets and directed banks to disburse farm loans within 24 hours of request during the Watch
Hans India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Govt agrees to purchase tobacco through Markfed
Parchur: Relentless efforts of the Parchur MLA, Yeluru Sambasiva Rao, on behalf of Black Burley tobacco farmers have finally borne fruit, with the government giving the green signal for tobacco procurement from the second week of June through the MARKFED system. On Tuesday, MLA Yeluru Sambasiva Rao met with Agriculture Department Special Principal Secretary Rajasekhar, urging immediate action to resolve the severe tobacco crisis. Minister Gottipati Ravikumar also spoke with the Principal Secretary over the phone, requesting the initiation of tobacco procurement. The minister assured that tobacco issues would be discussed in the upcoming cabinet meeting. Responding to these efforts, the government expressed readiness to procure tobacco through the MARKFED in the second week of June. The Principal Secretary informed the MLA that the district marketing officials under the state marketing department are conducting field visits and will submit reports, and announced to take action for tobacco procurement at the Perchuru, Inkolu, and Marturu market yards through MARKFED. During the meeting, the MLA informed the officer that the farmers are voluntarily moving toward crop diversification and are prepared to cultivate alternative crops. He detailed how farmers faced severe difficulties due to increased cultivation area and crop yields without corresponding prices. He explained to the PS that he had multiple discussions with farmers, and noted their willingness to embrace crop diversification while requesting government support. MLA Yeluri also explained that farmers are declaring they will not cultivate crops without company contracts. He said that many farmers support this stance, as it will eliminate difficultiesfor farmers during crop procurement.
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Govt pledges full support for Black Burley tobacco farmers
Parchur: The minister for agriculture, cooperation, and marketing, KinjarapuAtchannaidu, assured comprehensive support to Black Burley tobacco farmers and promised to purchase their entire crop down to the last leaf. Atahcannaidu, energy minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar, and Parchur MLA Yeluri Sambabsiva Rao participated in a face-to-face meeting with the Black Burley tobacco farmers, state-level officers, and representatives of companies at the Parchur MLA's camp office in Isukadarsi on Saturday. Following extensive discussions, the Atchannaidu announced an action plan for Black Burley tobacco procurement. The government has decided to purchase the crop in two grades, common variety at Rs 12,000 per quintal and low-grade variety at Rs 6,000 per quintal. Despite fluctuations in international market prices, companies have been instructed to maintain these fixed rates. The government has guaranteed to bear the processing costs for tobacco procurement and announced that if necessary, MARKFED will initiate Black Burley tobacco purchases. The government established six sub-committees to oversee the procurement process, ensuring that every last leaf of the farmers' produce is purchased. The minister emphasised that the government will work with complete sincerity to rescue farmers from the current crisis. He warned companies against making false promises and demanded clear commitments to benefit farmers. The Minister said that while the target was to cultivate 25 million kilograms of tobacco, farmers have currently grown 75 million kilograms, creating a surplus that has contributed to the crisis due to reduced international demand. Minister Gottipathi Ravi Kumar explained that farmers cultivated Black Burley tobacco with company encouragement, and now the government will ensure purchases until the last leaf. The Minister stressed that suicide should not be an option, and such thoughts should not enter farmers' minds. Special Chief Secretary of the Agriculture Department B Rajasekhar assured that the government will protect farmers in crisis and take measures to ensure companies purchase every last kilogram of tobacco. District collector J Venkata Murali confirmed that the government has made decisions favouring tobacco farmers and will continuously monitor the procurement process and price implementation. Parchuru MLA EluriSambasiva Rao called for government action to support farmers in crisis and explained the policies being implemented. Farmers from various areas, including Inkolu, Duddukuru, J Panguluru, and other mandals, requested the implementation of minimum support prices, citing severe losses from Black Burley tobacco cultivation. Agriculture Commissioner Dilli Rao, Tobacco Board Chairman Yaswant, Warehousing Corporation MD Suresh, Santanuthalapadu MLA BN Vijay Kumar, district agriculture officer Ramakrishna, and representatives from 20 companies, farmer organisation leaders and other stakeholders were present.
