AP CM Reddy announces 50% quota for women in market chairpersons posts

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, during a meeting attended by state ministers Kurasala Kanna Babu, Mopidevi Venkatramana and other concerned officials, announced 50 per cent reservation for women in the market chairperson posts. Based on an existing order that was issued by the government, 50 per cent reservation has already been allotted to SC, ST, and OBCs. He also said that a committee would be set up to look into the losses in district co-operative banks.

Reddy, during a discussion with officials at a review meeting on agricultural marketing and cooperative departments, said, "They should be able to decide the prices during the cultivation of crops.” During the discussion, the prices of lentils, tomato, cotton crops in the future were also discussed.

Officials to stay away from middlemen system

Reddy, talking about the situation of the farmers, also said, "Farmers should strongly believe that we have given hope... Farmers should not forcefully sell the crops to middlemen.” Furthermore, he has directed the officials to maintain a distance with the middlemen system, while also ordering the establishment of a board for millets by the end of October. The Government is also planning to announce a price for the crops that have no minimum support price and it is being said that the Government will start purchasing dryland crops on October 15. Speculations have arisen because the farmers have been asked by the officials to start for online enrolment from October 10.

READ | Mother Dairy sells 5000 tonnes of onions at subsidised prices in Delhi

AP government on hefty onion prices

While asking the officials to keep green cover for nine months, the Chief Minister said, "Rayalaseema should be transformed as millets hub.” On another positive note, while the rest of the country is struggling with the hefty onion prices, the CM said that the Andhra Pradesh government has been supporting the public by selling onions for Rs 25 per kg. Furthermore, the Chief Minister has also enquired about the stock of onions in the state. As far as the import is concerned, 660 metric tons of onions have been brought in from other states, so far.

READ | Centre prohibits onion export with immediate effect, amid rising price

During the discussion, the Chief Minister also asked the officials to do a thorough assessment and to conduct a comprehensive observation on storage of agro-products, fishes, prawns, and other ocean products in godowns and cold storage. He also asked for the digitalisation of the primary agriculture co-operative committees. Reddy further set targets and instructed the officials to complete all the works in the specified deadline.

READ | Mother Dairy sells 5000 tonnes of onions at subsidised prices in Delhi

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(With ANI Inputs)