(iv) Need to fix remunerative price far groundnut at Rs. 1000 /- per quintal in Andhra Pradesh

SHRI A. VENKATA REDDY (Anantapur): Andhra Pradesh stands almost at par with Gujarat in the production of groundnuts. Out of total production, 90 per cent is grown in rained areas of Rayalaseema and in Telanganaf districts. As against go, per cent of the crop, 60 percent is grown in Rayalseema district, which is one of the major commercial crops grown there.

The price of groundnut has prevailed between Rs. 1200 to Rs. 1300 per quintal during the last 3 to 4 years and it has steeply fallen down to Rs. 600 to Rs. 700 per quintal this year, that too when the prices of fertilizers, pesticides Labour have gone up abnormally. The Sun Flower and cotton growers find difficult to dispose of their stocks at the prevailing price and the crop is laying for

433 Matters Under Rule 377

want of purchaser who can give remunerative price.

The farmers are mainly dependent on groundnut, cotton and Sun Flower in Anantpur district. There is a need for the intervention of the Government through NAFED, NDDB or NCDC to purchase groundnut by announcing the remunerative price at Rs. 1000 per quintal to safeguard the interest of the farmers.

MR. SPEAKER: You insisted on raising the same issue earlier during Zero Hour. This is not correct.