THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Andhra government will directly supply six grocery items, including rice, to Kerala from next month to control the price hike in Kerala's general market. During a discussion held yesterday with Kerala Food Minister GR Anil, Andhra Pradesh Food Minister Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao said that Andhra will supply various types of rice, including Sulekha, and food items such as red chilli, Kashmiri chilli, coriander, black gram and red cow-peas to Kerala. Kerala has asked for three more items, including sugar.
In a press conference with Minister Anil, the Andhra Minister said that food grains will be procured by giving minimum support prices for crops to the farmers. He also said that the price will be fixed by including only the processing cost and freight charges. Quality will be ensured by an independent agency. Andhra Cooperative Department Commissioner Ahmed Babu, Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director G. Veerapandian, State Food Secretary PM Ali Asghar Pasha, Supplyco MD Sanjeeb Kumar Patjoshi, Civil Supplies Commissioner D. Sajith Babu, and others also participated in the discussion.
Jaya will be produced again for Kerala
Meanwhile, Jaya rice would arrive in Kerala only after five months. During the discussion yesterday, officials showed samples of Jaya rice available in Kerala to the Andhra minister. The minister said it was a duplicate.
"You are being cheated. This is not real Jaya rice. The so-called Jaya rice from other states is also not original. The original 'Jaya' is grown in the special climate of the Godavari region," he said.
Jaya rice will be grown in Andhra to bring the original Jaya rice to Kerala. It will take at least 4 months to harvest the rice. Although Jaya rice was earlier produced in the Godavari region, it was later abandoned. The minister confirmed the report published by Kerala Kaumudi which stated that middlemen are bringing Bondalu rice to Kerala in the name of Jaya rice and reaping huge profits. Andhra Cooperation Department Commissioner Ahmed Babu said that the cultivation of Jaya rice stopped when there was no demand from Kerala.
Food items that Andhra will provide Kerala
Item, Available per Month (in Tons)
Rice------ 3840
Dry red chilli-----500
Kashmiri chilli----80
Coriander - 380
Black gram--------------770
Red Cow Peas ---1260