Hyderabad, Sep 17th: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah urged the Centre to create adequate storage space in the State for harvested kharif crop expected by October-end, and asked the District Collectors to make available enough godown space to prevent distress sale by farmers. Holding his maiden video conference with the district collectors, Mr Rosaiah, flanked by eight of his Cabinet colleagues, said he was taking up the issue with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to ensure clearance of old stock by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and make available adequate storage space for fresh kharif crop.

The Chief Minister said, ''It is the Government's responsibility to ensure justice to farmers on the one hand and consumers on the other.'' The Collectors should ensure that prices of essential commodities do not go up before the arrival of fresh crop. Mr. Rosaiah urged them to take stringent action against black marketers and hoarders of essential commodities by ensuring availability of rice, pulses, edible oil, fruits and vegetables at reasonable rates. On seasonal conditions, the Government was contemplating to include a list of drought-hit mandals after a review in the next four days. The Collectors should ensure alternative seeds and adequate fertilizers for farmers to raise fresh crop, he added.