Latest news with #SumitKumar
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Chittoor gears up for Yoga Day fete, 9 lakh likely to participate
The district administration is geared up for the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations scheduled at the Mesanical Grounds here on Saturday (June 21). Over 9 lakh people are expected to take part in the massive programme across 5,808 habitations in the district. Addressing the media here on Friday (June 20), District Collector Sumit Kumar stressed on the need for proper planning and prompt execution of the event. Lauding the officials, NGOs, and public groups for the State-led 'Yogandhra 2025' campaign, the Collector urged officials not to lose momentum and ensure that each venue has adequate facilities, with top priority to drinking water, snacks, toilets, and medical camps. Mr. Kumar instructed the officials to mobilise the yoga participants based on the capacity of each venue. He said that the public address systems, photo, and videography were mandatory, and the footage should be uploaded on the official app by 10 am of the same day. The Collector directed the special officers at the mandal level, municipal commissioners, and MPDOs, to participate and oversee arrangements. He said that the public representatives from village to district levels should be formally invited to give a fillip to the event. The programme will be held at the Mesanical Grounds from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The Collector said that Yoga instructors will be posted at all the venues to guide the participants.
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Collector inspects mango processing units in Chittoor
District Collector Sumit Kumar on Friday said that the State government announced a subsidy of ₹4 per kg for Totapuri mangoes to stand by the farmers in the wake of tough market conditions and is committed to ensuring no farmer suffers losses this mango season. The Collector made a whirlwind visit to several mango pulp processing units administered by various MNCs at Annur (Karveti Nagar), Sriram Food Company in Chittoor, Galla Sri Sannidhi in Puthalapattu, and Jain Irrigation Systems in Gangadhara Nellore mandals. Reviewing the procurement process, the Collector interacted with the company representatives and farmers and was apprised of the pricing and procurement issues. He said that the season this year witnessed increased yields due to favourable weather and improved cultivation practices. Unfortunately, the global market demand came down drastically, given the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, adversely impacting pulp exports. The Collector said that the buyers from neighbouring States, particularly from the Krishnagiri market in Tamil Nadu, had already procured a large quantum of pulp for brands like Parle, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi, which led to the leftover inventory since two mango seasons. The government introduced a token system for mango supply, mandating ₹4 per kg as a direct subsidy, in addition to the amount paid by the pulp units. The Collector said that officials will continuously monitor pricing at all procurement ramps. The revenue officials at the field level along with the police personnel would be stationed at ramp points to prevent malpractices and jostling. The farmers were urged to contact control room numbers 9491077325 and 08572-242777 for prompt redressal of their grievances.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Collector asks traders to adhere to govt. prices
District Collector Sumit Kumar on Thursday warned action against those who deny the price fixed by the government to procure Totapuri mangoes from the farmers. Mr. Kumar inspected the Jain factory in Gangadhara Nellore and RMM factory in Gudipala and interacted with the factory management as well as the farmers. He asked the traders to purchase the mango at the rate fixed by the government and not to trouble the farmers. He asked the revenue officials to provide basic facilities like food and water to the farmers who come to the factories to sell their produce. He asked the factory management to increase the capacity of processing units and also make adequate packing material available in view of the increase of mango yield in the district. He also directed the management to release money to the farmers early. On the occasion, the Collector assured the farmers that the government is ready to purchase all the mango yield in the district and not a single farmer will incur losses. Meanwhile, Joint Collector Vidyadhari visited a pulp factory at Nalagampalli in Bangarupalem mandal and inspected the issuance of tokens to farmers at the factory. She asked farmers not to panic. She announced helpline numbers 08572-242777 or 9491077325 for the farmers.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Collector urges mango farmers not to panic, procurement will continue till August
The Chittoor district administration on Tuesday reiterated support measures for Totapuri mango growers, including the fixation of a procurement price of ₹12 per kg, to resolve the mounting concerns among farmers. District Collector Sumit Kumar addressing a review meeting with officials of the agriculture, horticulture, marketing, and line departments said that the government would always protect the interests of the farmers amid low market demand. The Collector said that Totapuri mangoes were being cultivated across 98,000 acres in the district, with a production of about five lakh metric tonnes. But, with only 27 of the 35 local processing units currently working and retention of last year's pulp with the units at 40,000 tonnes, the demand from pulp industries had dipped sharply. 'As of now, 38,000 tonnes of Totapuri mangoes have been supplied to factories in the last eight days. The procurement will continue till August, and there is no need for distress sales of the mangoes,' the Collector said, appealing to the farmers to cooperate by staggering harvests and avoiding overloading factories. The State government issued orders on June 6, announcing a base price of ₹12 per kg, including ₹8 from processing units and a ₹4 subsidy to be directly transferred to farmers' bank accounts. 'Mangoes sold at designated ramps and market yards are eligible for the support price,' the Collector said. Senior officials are deployed at the pulp units round the clock to register farmer details, including Aadhaar and bank accounts. 'We will ensure timely subsidy disbursal to all,' Mr. Kumar said. Meanwhile, the district administration has set up a control room with helplines 08572-242777, 9491077325.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Totapuri mango farmers fear produce will wither soon if not procured
The woes of mango farmers especially the Totapuri variety keep increasing with no solution in sight. The fruits are ripe and ready for harvest, but with scores of fruit pulp making units across Tirupati and Chittoor districts reluctant for procurement, owing to stock piled up over the last two years, the fruit is likely to wither any moment. Totapuri (locally called 'Bengalura') variety is grown on 50,000 hectares in the undivided Chittoor district and the yield is pegged at a whopping six lakh tonnes this year. At a joint meeting held with mango pulp unit representatives, farmer leaders and 'Mandi' owners recently, district Collectors Sumit Kumar (Chittoor) and S. Venkateswar (Tirupati) announced procurement of mangoes from farmers at ₹12 per kg. After the factories sounded an alarm, the government chipped in with a support price of ₹4/kg, requiring the factories to pay ₹8/kg. The farmers usually dispose the produce by directly supplying to the factories, to the nearest Mandi, at the ramps (one-stop purchase points where the produce is loaded directly into waiting trucks), and at the nearest Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), who, in turn supply to the factories. The government had deployed officials at the factories, ramps, FPOs and Mandis to take details of the farmers and the quantum of supply. Despite such foolproof measures, the factories have reportedly insisted on a quick-fix solution to the piled up pulp before throwing their gates open to the incoming produce. The agitated farmers on Wednesday (June 11) had staged a protest over the district machinery's inability to implement its orders on mango procurement at Damalacheruvu junction on Chittoor-Kurnool national highway. Meanwhile, some factories had partially opened their gates to purchase mangoes, but at a paltry ₹5 per kg and not the mandatory ₹8/kg. 'At ₹5, we will not get even the cost incurred towards harvesting and transporting the yield to the factories', rued a farmer Goduguchinta Ravindra. While there are ramps that load fruits into waiting trucks bound to northern States, there is lack of clarity on how to secure the farmer's (beneficiary) details and account for this supply. 'If we are paid for supplying to ramps, much stock will be cleared in no time', says B. Dhananjaya Naidu, a mango supplier for three decades.
