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United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
AP: Fine quality rice to be served to 41,000 schools from June 12: Minister Nadendla
Machilipatnam, June 2 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minister for Civil Supplies Nadendla Manohar has announced that fine quality rice will be served to the students studying at over 41,000 government schools across the State from June 12 onwards. The oath-taking ceremony of the Kodali Agricultural Market Yard of Avanigadda Constituency, Ghantasala Mandal, Thota Kanakadurga Rajasekhar as the Chairman, Attaluri Gopichand as the Vice Chairman and the directors was held on Monday in the Agricultural Market Committee office. Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad presided over the function and Manohar attended the programme. Speaking on the occasion, the Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar said that the government has decided to serve fine quality rice, called as 'sanna biyyam' in local parlance, to the students studying over 41,000 government schools and staying in over 4,000 social welfare hostels across the State. The Minister observed that three and a half lakh metric tonnes of fine quality rice would be supplied to over 41,000 government schools and over 4,000 social welfare hostels in the State from June 12, adding that arrangements are being made to supply rice to schools and welfare hostels through the farmers who cultivate this rice. 'We have purchased about 48 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from the farmers during the Kharif and Rabi, which is the highest amount purchased by any State in the history of India. In this regard, Rs 12,400 crores have been disbursed to the farmers by crediting the amount in the bank accounts of farmers within 24 hours,' the Minister revealed, adding that in Krishna district alone, the Government has purchased about 58,000 metric tonnes of paddy. Taking a dig at the previous YSRCP regime, in the name of door delivery ration commodities, the Minister said that the YSRCP government purchased 9,360 MDU vehicles by spending Rs 1,650 crores and misused public money. These vehicles did not benefit the card holders as they were not provided exact information about when and where the MDU vehicles would deliver ration goods to the beneficiaries, they noted. APSRTC chairman Konakalla Narayana, Agnikula Kshatriya corporation chairman Chilakalapudi Papa Rao and DCMS chairman Bandi Ramakrishna were present. UNI DP RN
Hans India
2 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Paddy worth crores sent to mills lacking quality machines
Wanaparthy: Even as the government is keeping a strict vigilance on paddy procurement and supply, the Civil Supplies Department in Wanaparthy has allegedly allocated paddy to several rice mills lacking mandatory Satex and FRK machines; the equipment essential for rice quality inspection and fortification. Reportedly, out of the 74 mills that received paddy allocations during the current Yasangi (Rabi) season, nearly half of the raw rice mills are functioning without the required machines. The government has mandated that every rice mill must be equipped with a Satex machine to check grain quality and an FRK machine to meet nutritional guidelines. Shockingly, allocations have allegedly been made without verifying the operational status of the mills or ensuring the presence of storage space, electricity, or functioning machinery. Inspections have reportedly been bypassed, with officials relying on incomplete or manipulated inspection reports. In Wanaparthy mandal alone, a raw rice mill without a Satex machine was allotted 3,000 metric tonnes of paddy. So far, it has received 5,800 bags of fine variety and 3,500 bags of coarse variety paddy, with another 65,700 bags reportedly in the pipeline. Officials claim the mill owner submitted a declaration promising to install the Satex machine within two months. At procurement godowns, technical assistants are expected to certify the rice quality before approval. However, serious questions are being raised about how paddy from unqualified mills is passing quality checks. When contacted, District Supply Officer Kashi Vishwanatham admitted that 15–20 mills are operating without the mandated machines but have been told to install them. Additional Collector (Revenue) Venkateswarlu stated that only previously approved mills are being allotted paddy and that no new mills are receiving allocations.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Mumbai, Pune Rain: How heavy showers in Maharashtra could bring tears to your kitchen
Unseasonal rainfall across onion-growing regions of Maharashtra, including key regions like Nashik and Pune, has damaged large quantities of crops, raising fears of reduced supply and a possible rise in prices. For consumers in cities, this could soon mean higher onion bills at local markets. Several districts in the state have experienced heavy rainfall since early May. The rains, coming at the end of the Rabi harvesting season, have hit harvested and standing onion crops, pushing farmers into fresh losses and disrupting the supply chain. As a result, farmers are facing substantial crop losses, which could lead to reduced market supply and potential price hikes for consumers in the coming weeks. Rain damages onion harvests across major growing districts Onion-growing regions, including Konkan, Nashik, Pune, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Amravati and Nagpur have experienced continuous rainfall since May 6. Farmers in Dhule, Ahilyanagar, Solapur, Beed, Dharashiv, Akola, Jalna, Buldhana and Jalgaon have also reported crop losses due to the unexpected downpour. "Unseasonal rains have lashed onion-growing districts of Dhule, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pune, Solapur, Beed, Dharashiv, Akola, Jalna, Buldhana, and Jalgaon. Prices were already down and have further slumped due to unseasonal rains," Bharat Dighole, founder-president of the Maharashtra State Onion Producers Farmers Association told PTI. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. 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Techno Mag Learn More Undo Market supply hit as stored and standing crops suffer According to Dighole, many farmers who harvested early, before March, managed to secure a decent yield. However, those who waited till April or May have seen their crops hit by extreme heat followed by rain. The sudden shift in weather has affected both harvested onions stored in open fields and standing crops still awaiting harvest. Also Read: Check all the live updates about Mumbai rain Live Events You Might Also Like: Southwest Monsoon to reach Mumbai, Bengaluru, other regions in next three days: IMD "Farmers who have harvested the crop before March this year have got good yield per acre, and those harvesting in April-May haven't been lucky, as the crop has faced excessive heat and unseasonal rains. Several farmers do not have storage facilities, and those who store their produce in the fields have been worst affected in the rains since May 6," he said. Prices low for now, but supply may tighten As of May 20, the average onion price in Lasalgaon market — one of the largest wholesale markets for onions — stood at ₹1,150 per quintal. With a possible decline in market arrivals due to damaged crops, wholesale prices may see upward pressure in the near term. Onion acreage reached record high this year In 2024–25, onion was cultivated across 6,51,965 hectares in Maharashtra, a significant jump from 4,64,884 hectares in 2023–24 and 5,53,212 hectares in 2022–23. Nashik alone accounted for 2,90,136 hectares this year, making it the largest contributor. Exports remain strong despite past restrictions Despite repeated restrictions on exports imposed by the Union government since 2019, India has maintained a steady volume of outbound onion shipments. Maharashtra remains the country's leading onion exporter. "In 2018-19, 21.83 lakh tonnes of onions were exported, bringing in Rs 3,468 crore in foreign currency. In 2019-20, 11.49 lakh tonnes were exported, and the revenue was Rs 2,320 crore. It was 15.73 lakh tonnes and Rs 3,432 crore in 2021-22, and in 2022-23, we exported 25.25 lakh tonnes of onions and earned Rs 4,522 crore. The figure was 17.17 lakh tonnes and Rs 3,922 crore for 2023-24," Dighole said. Farmers urge policy clarity on domestic demand Dighole called for a clearer national production estimate to help plan both domestic distribution and export strategies. "In such a scenario, there will be no scarcity, and consumers can get affordable onions. When onion prices rise, the government steps in to control it by levying export duty, minimum export prices and banning exports. Farmers suffer because of it," he said. As the rain clouds linger over Maharashtra, the price of onions may soon start to reflect the damage done in the fields — with household budgets in urban centres like Mumbai and Pune likely to feel the pinch. (Inputs from PTI)
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ration card holders in Telangana to get 3-month fine rice quota in one go in June
Hyderabad: The state govt is faced with the challenge of supplying the three-month quota of fine rice to over 90 lakh ration card holders in June. This comes after the Centre has directed all the states to release three months of free ration (June, July, and August) at one time in June under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The reasons cited in the Centre's directive include potential rainy season-related transport problems due to floods, to ensure that the poor do not face any inconvenience, among others. However, sources said another reason could be that the godowns of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have excessive stocks, and the move is aimed at creating space for paddy and wheat stocks of the current rainy season that would start coming soon. This is not the first time that this bulk release of ration is being permitted. During COVID-19, similar measures were taken to release two months' ration at a time, reducing logistical hassles and providing continuous access to food during mobility restrictions. Though cases of coronavirus are being reported from some parts of the country, officials said the situation is not alarming, and this could not be the reason for the Centre's directive. Usually, such steps are taken in times of health or national emergencies, and neither of them seems to be the cause for the Centre's directive now, said sources. Officials of the Telangana Civil Supplies Corporation said they have sufficient stocks of fine rice, procured during the last Kharif and Rabi seasons. "We will be able to supply nearly 6 lakh metric tonnes of fine rice, which is a three-month quota, to all the ration card holders in the state in June. However, the distribution will continue month-long and may also continue beyond June to ensure every cardholder gets the three-month quota," said an official, adding that such a move could be implemented once or twice but not regularly. Civil supplies commissioner DS Chauhan has issued orders to ensure that the directive is implemented and the ration card holders are provided with fine rice from June 1 to June 30.
The Print
25-05-2025
- Climate
- The Print
Amid price slump, unseasonal rains double headache for Maharashtra's onion farmers
The damage in real terms is yet to be ascertained as the rains continue and panchnamas (spot assessment) haven't been done, he lamented. Onion crops on thousands of acres have been damaged in the rains, leaving farmers staring at heavy losses, Maharashtra State Onion Producers Farmers Association founder-president Bharat Dighole told PTI. Mumbai, May 25 (PTI) Pre-monsoon rains in several parts of Maharashtra since the beginning of May have increased the worries of the state's onion cultivators, who are already stressed about falling prices of the kitchen staple. Onion-producing areas in Konkan, Nashik, Pune, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Amravati and Nagpur have been witnessing heavy unseasonal rains since May 6. 'Unseasonal rains have lashed onion-growing districts of Dhule, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pune, Solapur, Beed, Dharashiv, Akola, Jalna, Buldhana, and Jalgaon. Prices were already down and have further slumped due to unseasonal rains,' he said. He said in the Lasalgaon market, as of May 20, the average price was Rs 1,150 per quintal. Onion growers begin preparations for the Rabi season a year in advance, with the nursery being set up in August-September 2024 and replantation carried out from November (2024) to January (2025), Dighole explained. 'Farmers who have harvested the crop before March this year have got good yield per acre, and those harvesting in April-May haven't been lucky, as the crop has faced excessive heat and unseasonal rains. Several farmers do not have storage facilities, and those who store their produce in the fields have been worst affected in the rains since May 6,' he pointed out. The harvested crops of these farmers have become wet, while even standing crops have been damaged in many areas, Dighole added. In 2022-23, onion cultivation was on 5,53,212 hectares, while in 2023-24, it was on 4,64,884 hectares, and in 2024-25, on a record 6,51,965 hectares, he said. Dighole said Nashik is the largest onion-producing region in the country, and in 2024-25, the crop was cultivated on 2,90,136 hectares, while it was on 1,67,285 hectares in 2023-24 and 2,48,417 hectares in 2022-23. Despite bans being imposed by the Union government now and then since 2019, exports have been robust and brought in substantial revenue, with Maharashtra being the leading state in the country in this regard, he pointed out. 'In 2018-19, 21.83 lakh tonnes of onions were exported, bringing in Rs 3,468 crore in foreign currency. In 2019-20, 11.49 lakh tonnes were exported, and the revenue was Rs 2,320 crore. It was 15.73 lakh tonnes and Rs 3,432 crore in 2021-22, and in 2022-23, we exported 25.25 lakh tonnes of onions and earned Rs 4,522 crore. The figure was 17.17 lakh tonnes and Rs 3,922 crore for 2023-24,' he said, giving nationwide figures. The Union government must make public the yearly output needed in the country so that farmers can plan accordingly and excess produce can be exported. 'In such a scenario, there will be no scarcity, and consumers can get affordable onions. When onion prices rise, the government steps in to control it by levying export duty, minimum export prices and banning exports. Farmers suffer because of it,' Dighole asserted. PTI MR BNM ARU This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
