Vexed farmers want better warehousing

KADAPA: Even as millers and farmers elsewhere in the state are struggling for storage space, the godowns in Kadapa district are facing a peculiar situation of vacant space. While the government godowns are full to their capacity, more than 50 percent of the private godowns are empty in the district due to severe damage caused to Bengal gram and sunflower crops which are widely cultivated in the district. The situation is unlikely to improve as the government does not want to rent private godowns unless there is a good crop production next season.
According to officials, Bengal gram, sunflower and paddy are the most cultivated crops. But they got damaged severely due to heavy rains soon after sowing during this Rabi season. As a result, about 50 percent of private godowns are lying vacant, but three government godowns are full to their capacity. While there are eight private godowns of 50,000 tonne capacity in Jammalamadugu area, there are three godowns of 20,000 tonne capacity in Proddatur. "Godowns which stored seeds of these crops are also having free space as farmers are sowing fresh crop," said an official.Interestingly, government godowns are facing severe shortage of space. Of the three government godowns, the 25,000 tonne godown of Central Warehousing Corporation is occupied by the Food Corporation of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India and farmers. Similarly, another godown of 10,000 tonne capacity rented by the FCI is full and another 25,000 tonne godown of AP State Warehousing Corporation is filled with various grains and turmeric.