Jagtial Farmers Block Roads Over Paddy Procurement Delays and Deduction Concerns

Farmers in Jagtial district staged a major demonstration on Monday, blocking roads to protest against delays in paddy procurement and alleged unfair deduction practices.

The agitation centred at Pudur crossroads in Kodimyala mandal, where cultivators occupied the roadway and voiced their grievances through slogans directed at the authorities.

At the heart of the farmers' complaint lay allegations that procurement officials were levying a seven-kilogram reduction on each paddy bag purchased, effectively reducing the amount farmers received. The protesters called for an immediate halt to this practice and expedited commencement of procurement activities.

The demonstration drew support from BRS state general secretary Jeevan Reddy and former Choppadandi MLA Sunke Ravi Shankar, both of whom arrived at the protest site to stand alongside the cultivators.

The blockade created significant congestion on the Karimnagar–Jagtial highway, with vehicles backed up across several kilometres throughout the duration of the protest. Traffic movement remained severely hampered as farmers maintained their presence on the road.

In response to the situation, police personnel and district officials arrived at the location to oversee developments and ensure order.