Former Minister Accuses Congress Government of Failing Farmers Through Paddy Procurement Delays

Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, a former minister, has levelled sharp criticism at the Congress government over its handling of paddy procurement, citing widespread failures that have pushed farmers into hardship across Wanaparthy district.

During visits to procurement centres across villages in Peddamandadi mandal, including Manigilla, Niranjan Reddy highlighted the mounting difficulties faced by cultivators. He attributed the crisis to governmental negligence and deliberate delays in the procurement process.

According to the former minister's assessment, the government's failure to complete procurement operations in a timely manner has resulted in significant crop damage. Harvested paddy stored at procurement centres has been damaged by rainwater, he noted, while also accusing officials of intentionally prolonging the delays. Transport agencies have also come under his scrutiny for their role in the situation.

The former minister underscored the toll on farming communities, pointing out that cultivators invested months in growing their crops only to see the produce ruined due to incomplete procurement. Beyond procurement issues, he also blamed the government for compounding farmer difficulties through delayed distribution of urea and frequent power cuts. These combined factors have forced many farmers to sell their grain to private traders at significantly reduced prices, Niranjan Reddy alleged.

He suggested that the government's strategy involved reducing its own procurement obligations, thereby allowing private traders to acquire grain at cheaper rates and diminishing returns for farmers.

Drawing comparisons with the previous administration, Niranjan Reddy recalled that during the BRS government under Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, paddy procurement occurred promptly following harvest. Farmers received direct payments into their bank accounts within a week of selling their produce, he noted.

The current situation presents a stark contrast, with farmers now enduring months of waiting at procurement centres to dispose of their harvest, the former minister stated. He cautioned that the escalating frustration among the farming community poses a significant political risk to the Congress government's standing in the state.