Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar, who is leaving for Delhi tomorrow, will take up with Prime Minister the issue of a special package to the farmers who have lost their corps in the recent rains. He will also meet food and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and others.
Reddy along with finance minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, revenue minister N Raghuveera Reddy, chief secretary SV Prasad and other officials, reviewed the various efforts being made to help the farmers.
The state government has already announced compensation, fresh crop loans, interest waiver, input subsidies and purchase of discoloured paddy and crop insurance. “We have done our best for the farmers. But this is not enough,” he said.
The chief minister will request the Prime Minister to treat the Rs 400-crore already sanctioned as a special grant and release more funds. The state released Rs 1,019 crore as input subsidy for 2009 and 2010. Besides, the district collectors have been asked to ensure that the subsidy is distributed before Sankranti. The government has given instructions to procure damaged paddy up to 50 per cent while the Food Corporation of India is also procuring discoloured paddy up to 10 per cent and broken grains up to 30 per cent, a release said.
