Rajahmundry, July 21^st: In order to overcome the shortage and increasing price of red gram, the state government is encouraging farmers to raise red gram crops over an extended area by offering seeds at 50 percent subsidiary in both East and West Godavari districts. The price of red gram has shot upto Rs 80 a kg and the government has expressed its helplessness to handle the increased demand for red gram and regulate its prices.

However, following a hue and cry from the general public and opposition parties, the state government has come up with an idea to persuade farmers in the district to increase the area of its cultivation. In East Godavari, presently red gram is being raised in over 1,200 hectare and the authorities have targeted the extend by 800 more hectare. Farmers raise red gram as a commercial crop in some stretches of upland areas as it does not require much water for cultivation.

In West Godavari too, agricultural authorities are planning to increase red gram cultivation by nearly 300 hectare. Red gram seeds are being supplied to farmers at 50 percent subsidiary from the AP Seeds Development Corporation Limited. It takes nearly 180 days to get red gram for harvest from the day of sowing.