Paddy-based food processing industries in all districts: KCR

HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) has said that food processing industries which convert paddy into various products like rice, edible oil etc, would be set up in the districts. Telangana farmers, who had already taken the state to number one position in the country in paddy production, would be able to sell their products in the global market and earn more profits through the food processing industries, he said.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with the representatives of Japan's Satake Corporation, a world-renowned rice mill firm which processes rice, at the Dr BR Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat on Monday. In connection with this, KCR also conducted a high-level review with Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar, Rythu Bandhu Samiti President Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Chairman Ravinder Singh, Telangana Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Commissioner Anil Kumar and other officials.

Ministers Harish Rao, Vemula Prashant Reddy, MLC Desapati Srinivas, Chief Advisor to Government Rajeev Sharma, Chief Advisor to CM Somesh Kumar, Special Chief Secretary for Finance Ramakrishna Rao, CM Secretaries Smita Sabharwal, Bhupal Reddy, Rajasekhar Reddy, Civil Supply Corporation Chairman Ravinder Singh, Commissioner Anil Kumar and others also participated.

Telangana reached top in paddy production in the country with the implementation of slew of agricultural development and farmer welfare programmes. KCR decided to implement marketing policies which help the farming community earn profits for the crops they grow. On the occasion of decennial celebrations of Telangana state formation day, the state government announced good news for the Telangana farmers. KCR’s government, which already established procurement centres to buy paddy and ease their hardships, is setting up food processing industries like rice mills to ensure more profits from the harvested crop.

The Chief Minister took key decisions in this direction. As part of the policy to encourage food processing industries, he decided to establish and maintain rice mills under the supervision of the State Civil Supplies Corporation. Following the demand for various types of products made from rice in the global market, the corporation will also undertake the responsibility of expanding the market. The Civil Supplies Department will undertake the massive task of converting the farmers into businessmen. Rice bran oil production mills will be established and linked to rice mills. The paddy grown by Telangana farmers is in high demand in the global market. More godowns will be constructed to keep the increasing rice stocks safe.

Further, KCR directed the civil supplies minister and officials to prepare specific plans in this regard. The CM ordered an increase in the number of officers and staff to take up more responsibilities in the Civil Supplies Corporation.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “With a vision of making agriculture a profitable profession, the state government accorded top priority to irrigation, electricity, farmers' welfare and agricultural development. The state government is providing full support to the farmers to cultivate crops by providing free electricity and irrigation water and providing subsidies by implementing farmer welfare schemes like Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima. The government has the responsibility to ensure that the harvested crop is not wasted, damaged and the prices should not be reduced due to any reason. It has been decided to set up district-wise food processing units to convert paddy into various products so that farmers will get open market rate prices for the crop. As part of this, we are going to set up rice mills with the most modern and technological capacity to process 60 Tonnes and 120 Tonnes of rice per hour in each district."