Telangana Achieves Record Paddy Procurement, Strengthens Food Security: Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy
Suryapet, May 30, 2025: Telangana’s Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister, Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, announced that the state has achieved a historic milestone in paddy procurement under the Congress government, surpassing all records in Telangana’s 11-year history and even during the era of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Speaking at a review meeting in Suryapet, alongside Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, he outlined significant strides in paddy procurement, public distribution, and irrigation reforms in the combined Nalgonda district.
During the last Kharif season, farmers cultivated 46.7 lakh acres, yielding an unprecedented 103.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. For the ongoing Yasangi season, cultivation spanned nearly 60 lakh acres, with an expected output of 130 lakh metric tonnes. “No previous government has achieved such large-scale procurement,” Reddy stated, emphasizing the Congress government’s commitment to procuring every grain from every farmer.
On food security, Reddy pledged to issue ration cards to all eligible families, regardless of their economic status, criticizing the previous BRS government for halting the process for nearly a decade. “We are determined to ensure no family is left without access to subsidized food grains,” he said. The government now provides six kilograms of free, high-quality rice per beneficiary, benefiting nearly 2.81 crore people at a cost of ₹10,665 crore. Reddy highlighted that the previous administration distributed substandard rice and allowed 10–30% leakage in the public distribution system, which the current government has rectified.
In irrigation, Reddy directed officials to expedite land acquisition and forest clearances for ongoing projects, promising personal oversight to ensure fair compensation for farmers. He criticized the neglect of major irrigation projects like the Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP), which suffered from 45 years of silt accumulation. The Congress government has launched a comprehensive desilting program for SRSP, Nagarjuna Sagar, and other projects to restore their water-holding capacity. Reddy also accused the BRS government of mismanaging the Kaleshwaram Project, escalating its cost from ₹38,000 crore to over ₹1 lakh crore, leaving it incomplete and burdening future generations.
Reddy praised his cabinet colleagues, lauding Tummala Nageswara Rao’s integrity and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy’s dynamic leadership in the Roads & Buildings Department. He announced the recruitment of 1,100 engineers to strengthen the irrigation sector and urged officials to maintain 24/7 accessibility to address grievances promptly. Warning against corruption, he encouraged the media to report irregularities for swift action.
Looking ahead, Reddy said ayacut plans for the upcoming Kharif season would be finalized early, involving public representatives to ensure equitable water distribution. He called for collective efforts from officials, contractors, and the media to ensure transparent and efficient progress in irrigation and civil supplies projects, vowing to deliver a corruption-free administration that serves Telangana’s farmers and citizens.
