Markfed told to compete in order to procure pulses

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Dec. 15: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday asked the state government to direct the AP Markfed to compete with private traders in order to procure pulses in the ensuing season.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy while dealing with a petition filed against skyrocketing prices of pulses particularly red gram in the market suggested the government to intervene in the market through the AP Markfed by competing with private traders in procuring pulses.

The AP Markfed submitted to the court that it would procure red gram from the farmers as per the minimum support price fixed by the government, but it could not pay more than support price offered by the private traders to farmers.

Reacting to the submission the bench told Mr A. Satya Prasad, additional advocate- general that if the Markfed could not procure red gram or other pulses, private traders will grab the stock and it would lead to further rise of prices.

“To avoid such a situation instruct the Markfed to procure pulses from farmers and the government shall fix a retail price with a minimum profit and make it available to the people,’’ the bench advised.

Mr Prasad told the court that Markfed opened stalls across the state to sell red gram at lower prices.

The court suggested that all other pulses could be sold through the Markfed stalls. The court directed the additional advocate-general to file a counter affidavit on the steps taken by the government to procuring the stocks of pulses.