Telangana Aims for Record Paddy Procurement During Rabi Season

Telangana is poised to achieve its highest paddy procurement figures yet during the Rabi 2025-26 season, according to state Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy.

Speaking at a media briefing held at the BR Ambedkar Secretariat in Hyderabad on Wednesday, the minister outlined the government's comprehensive approach to managing the procurement drive in the face of difficult weather patterns. He emphasized that the Congress administration has strengthened cultivation, output, and procurement operations compared with the preceding BRS government.

Reddy also criticized the opposition BRS party for allegedly spreading misinformation and sowing discord among the farming community regarding the procurement initiative.

Procurement Targets and Financial Commitments

The paddy cultivation footprint during this Rabi season spans 67 lakh acres, with the state projecting a total yield of 141 lakh metric tonnes. Against this backdrop, the government has established a procurement target of 90 lakh metric tonnes.

To support farmers directly, the state has committed Rs. 21,501 crore for Minimum Support Price disbursements. As of the minister's statement, authorities had already procured 17.28 lakh metric tonnes and transferred Rs. 2,310 crore directly into farmer bank accounts.

Infrastructure Expansion and Protective Measures

The government has significantly expanded its procurement network, establishing 8,575 collection centres across the state—a substantial increase from the 7,178 centres operational during the previous Rabi season under BRS administration.

To shield harvested grain from unexpected rainfall, officials have distributed 2.63 lakh tarpaulins across procurement sites. The state has also arranged more than 18.75 crore gunny bags and secured an additional storage capacity of 11.20 lakh metric tonnes to accommodate the expected volumes.

Transportation capacity has been bolstered with over 6,200 trucks deployed to move procured paddy swiftly to rice mills, ensuring efficient supply chain management.

Vigilance Against Malpractices

The minister reiterated that the government would enforce zero tolerance for short-weighing or mistreatment of farmers at procurement centres. Authorities have been instructed to pursue stringent measures against anyone engaged in fraudulent practices or irregularities during the procurement process.