Officials told the Chief Minister that the Department of Marketing is Creating 6.0 Lakh MT go-down space by AMCs in collaboration with APSWC. Construction of 3.0 Lakh MT of storage go-dowons will be completed with in six months. Under a 10-year Guarantee Scheme of FCI for 5 Lakh Metric Tonnes of storage space, tenders have been received and being taken up for evaluation by the FCI. To avoid Glut of Paddy in the markets during this marketing season, steps are being taken to hire private go-downs for one year apart from construction of new go-downs, in consultation with FCI with APSWC as nodal agency.

The Chief Minister was informed that 11 more Rythu Bazaars have been established in the state since 2006, five new rythu bazaars will be opened in Greater Hyderabad by this year end itself. Five new Rythu Bazaars will be established at Tuni and Mandapeta in East Godavari District, Adarshnagar in Karimnagar District and Kankipadu in Krishna District.

Officials explained that to control the prices of onions, the Department of Marketing has started the Market Invervention scheme through the Rythu Bazaars of Twin Cities from September 29, 2010.  Till date, a total of 175 tonnes of Onion are sold through special counters and mobile Rythu Bazaars by Self help groups at Rs.15/- per kg.  The prices will further decline from November as export demand has reduced from China and Pakistan. In case of Turmeric, prices may not witness any sharp fall in view of a lower carryover stock, estimated at three lakh bags. There is increase in acreage from 0.59 lakh hectors to 0.4 lakh hectors in A.P. and new crop arrivals are expected this year from mid January.

Minister for Cooperation, R Venkat Reddy presented the draft of a new and Unified Cooperative Act, 2010. The proposed Cooperative Act will replace the existing A.P. Cooperative Societies Act, 1964 and A.P. Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies Act, 1995. The main thrust of the proposed legislation is to make the cooperatives autonomous and members-controlled democratic institutions with minimum interference from the State. The draft Act is released for public debate and for ascertaining the views and suggestions from the stakeholders. The text of the Draft Cooperative Act, 2010 can be accessed at website http://cooperation.ap.gov.in.

The Chief Minister reviewed the status of Cooperative Credit System in the State.  Officials informed the Chief Minister that nearly Rs.6900 crore were provided to the Cooperative Credit System in the State by the Government of India and State Government since 2005. The Government have already constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to review the implementation of Revival Package for Cooperative Credit System and suggest road map for further reforms to make the system self-sufficient and farmer friendly.

The Chief Minister was explained that a record Rs.2831 crore of crop loan has been disbursed during Khariff 2010 through the Cooperative System. An ambitious target of disbursement of Rs.1885 crore for crop loans during the coming Rabi season has been fixed. Dr.Rosaiah was briefed about the progress of Computerisation of PACSs and DCCBs. So far the Ranga Reddy District is the 1st in the Country to have total computerization of all the 49 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies. The Cabinet Sub-Committee will take a decision on the 295 ineligible PACSs which would not get assistance under the Vidyanathan Package and are to be merged with other PACSs. Special Audit conducted for these 295 ineligible PACSs and the financial status presented before the Cabinet sub-committee. The Chief Minister was informed that elections to Rural Electric Cooperative Societies to Chipurupalli and Kuppam are to be completed by 31st October, 2010.