Telangana Government Assures Continued Paddy Procurement Despite Opposition Criticism

Hyderabad, May 21: The Telangana government reaffirmed its commitment to paddy farmers on Tuesday, promising to continue procuring paddy until the last grain is collected. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka announced that the state is even accepting soaked and wet paddy, addressing concerns raised by the farming community.

At a news conference, Vikramarka criticized opposition parties for spreading misinformation about paddy procurement. He accused leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of habitual falsehoods and urged them not to politicize the issue for their own gain. He reassured farmers that the government would ensure the procurement of all paddy, including the last soaked and wet grains.

Highlighting the proactive measures taken by the government, Vikramarka noted that procurement operations began 15 days earlier than usual, with more procurement centers established across the state. This early start and increased number of centers demonstrate the government’s dedication to supporting farmers.

“Our government is committed to purchasing the entire crop,” Vikramarka stated, contrasting this with the previous administration’s lack of support for soaked and sprouted paddy. He recalled that during his padayatra, many farmers expressed their distress over the procurement issues.

The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized the government’s efforts to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers and expedite payments, with amounts being credited to farmers’ bank accounts within three days. He claimed that no previous government had managed such swift payments.

Addressing the paddy bonus issue, Vikramarka dismissed opposition criticism, noting that the government has initiated a process to pay a bonus of Rs. 500 per quintal for fine varieties of paddy. He recalled former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s remark that sowing paddy was akin to putting a noose around one’s neck, reflecting the challenges faced by farmers.

A recent report on Rabi paddy procurement indicated that the government has procured 37.59 lakh tonnes so far, surpassing the 33.97 lakh tonnes procured during the Rabi season of 2022-23. This year, procurement began on March 25, earlier than last year’s start date of April 9. The government has also increased the number of procurement centers to 7,171, compared to 6,889 last year, and provided sufficient tarpaulins to protect the paddy from rain.

To improve efficiency, the government has supplied more paddy cleaners and weighing machines and utilized fans and blowers for quick drying. Additionally, the Accuweather App has been used to provide accurate hourly weather forecasts, aiding in better management of the procurement process.