One Lakh Platforms For Farmers To Dry Grains

Hyderabad (Maxim News): In an effort to help farmers who are forced to dry grains on the roads and other open areas, the State government is planning to take up construction of over one lakh Kallams (Platforms) in 32 districts.

The cabinet sub-committee comprising Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, Finance Minister T Harish Rao, Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy, Panchayat Raj Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao and Principal Secretary Agriculture B Janardhana Reddy met here on Thursday and decided to submit the proposal to Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.

The sub-committee suggested that construction of the platforms should be taken up under the employment guarantee scheme. The committee estimated that each platform to be built in an area of 45 square metres would cost around Rs 46,045. The committee said that these platforms will help farmers bring their produce and dry them before sending it to the procurement centres. Moisture in paddy always presents a problem to the farmers at the time of procurement.

The committee also considered the fact that during 2020-21, the farmers would take up paddy cultivation in 40 to 45 lakh acres and the State was keen on encouraging construction of permanent structures to store agricultural produce, to prepare organic fertilizers, and other local farm-related needs under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). (Maxim News)