Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Monday, Dec 20, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Monday, Dec 20, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
Agri-Biz & Commodities
-
Cultivation AP projects bumper cotton, oilseeds crop Our Bureau
Hyderabad , Dec. 19 DROUGHT-like conditions notwithstanding, production of various major crops including oilseeds is likely to be much above the initial expectations in Andhra Pradesh. In fact, output of certain crops including paddy, maize and cotton is likely to be much more than projected. The State is also set to record about 12 lakh tonnes of maize production considered to be a new record. Addressing a press conference, the State Agriculture Minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, on Sunday said that the performance of cotton and maize crops is heartening given the backdrop of the prevailing drought conditions and Central teams visiting the State to assess the damage. The State recorded 12 lakh tonnes of maize production, which is being procured by Markfed and the Civil Supplies Corporation. For the first time, he said there has been a tie-up between Markfed and the poultry sector. The memorandum of understating envisages procurement of 43,000 tonnes by the poultry sector aimed at helping both the maize farmers and the poultry sector. The Cotton Corporation of India has established 54 centres and has thus far procured 17.5 lakh quintals amounting to about Rs 342 crore. Thus far six lakh tonnes has been procured, out of the 30 lakh bales of expected production. A transportation cost of Rs 60 to Rs 70 per quintal is being borne by the farmers. As opposed to minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,750 per quintal and market price of Rs 2,500 last year, the MSP now is Rs 2,010 and the market price estimated at about Rs 1,920. In order to help the farm sector, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has also written to the Centre requesting them to consider hiking import duty on cotton. While about two lakh acres was under BT cotton cultivation, it is estimated that the spraying cost is about Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 for the hybrid cotton, it is about Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 for BT cotton. As against the MSP of Rs 1,350 for groundnut last year, the Minister said it has gone up to Rs 1,500 now. The Chief Minister has written to the Centre seeking the MSP of about Rs 2,000. As against 11.61 lakh tonnes of groundnut last year, it is projected that the State would achieve about 14.09 lakh tonnes. With reference to paddy, thus far about 3.15 lakh tonnes has been procured in contrast to two lakh tonnes last year during the period.
More Stories on : Cultivation | Andhra Pradesh | Oilseeds & Edible Oil | Cotton
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2004, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|