The Hindu Business Line : AP rice millers seek power subsidy

Vijayawada, Sept. 19 Rice millers are being portrayed as cheats and hoarders following raids on some mills in the State in recent times and this public perception does not do them justice, as they are honest citizens striving to do their bit to the society, according Mr D. Bhaskara Reddy, President of the Andhra Pradesh Rice Millers’ Association.

Mr Reddy made these remarks at the inaugural of the Rice Tech Expo, the ninth international exhibition on rice processing technology, which began here on Friday.

“The paddy farmer wants more for his produce all the time in view of the ever-increasing input costs and the common man wants rice in the market at a reasonable price.”

Market forces

“The market forces are at work and there is bound to be increase in the prices of some sought-after varieties and the rice miller is portrayed as the villain,” he said.

Complaining that the millers were operating on thin margins and were unable to modernise their machinery, he said there was very little, or no, help from the State Government.

“For years, we have been seeking power subsidy to rice mills and there has been no positive response from the State Government. We hope it will be considered now,” he said.

Mr M. Buddha Prasad, Minister for Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry, said the State Government was aware of the difficulties faced by the millers and it had constituted a special committee to go into them. He was also a member of the committee.

The question of granting power subsidy to rice mills was being seriously, positively considered by the State Government, he said.

More Stories on : Industry Associations | Rice | Power | Andhra Pradesh

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