CM Meets Sharad Pawar

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy requested union minister for Agriculture And Food Processing Sharad Pawar to sanction a mega food processing park in Nizamabad district.

The request was made during a high-level meeting the Chief Minister had with Sharad Pawar at the former's camp office on Sunday afternoon.

He also held discussions on issues related to poultry farmers, the fisheries sector and oil palm farmers.

Ministers D Sridhar Babu, Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy, Pithani Satyannarayana, P Bala Raju, R Venkata Reddy, MP Suresh Shetkar and senior officials from both the central and state governments, participated in the meeting.

The Chief Minister requested the union minister to grant a moratorium for a period of one year on repayment of term loans availed by the poultry industry - including farmers, breeding farms, integrators and hatcheries.

He also requested interest subvention of at least 6% for a period of 2-3 years, a rescheduling of outstanding term loans, and a sanction of additional working capital loans.

Kiran Kumar Reddy sought that the Food Corporation Of India be directed to allocate and release at least 2 lakh tones each of damaged wheat and rice for the exclusive use of poultry farmers at a subsidized price of 50% of the minimum support price (MSP).

He also proposed that poultry farmers, breeding farms and integrators be allowed to import soya meal for their captive consumption, at a zero rate of customs duty, for a period of one year.

The Chief Minister asked the union minister to set up a world-class aquarium in Andhra Pradesh, to which the latter agreed.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the oil palm farmers' association requested for the implementation of a formula recommended by the Commission For Agricultural Costs And Prices (CACP), i. e., 13.54% of net CPO weighted average price + 75.25% on 9% recovery of palm kernel nuts weighted average price. He also requested an import duty on crude oil and palm oil.

There was also a proposal to set up an agro and food-processing industrial park in Nizamabad district. M/s Smart Agro Industries Corporation Pvt. Limited reportedly evinced interest in setting up this facility. The company is promoted by a group of NRI entrepreneurs living in the USA and hailing from the Telangana region. The proposed project envisages the setting up of food, agro-processing and related industries.

The government of Andhra Pradesh has been facilitating the project, and has accordingly provided about 370 acres of land in Nandipet mandal of the district. The Chief Minister told Sharad Pawar that in September, 2012, the proposal was found eligible and kept waitlisted. He requested that the proposal be approved at the earliest. (INN)