Telangana's Paddy Procurement Crosses 64 Lakh Metric Tonnes; June Deadline Set

Hyderabad: Telangana's paddy procurement drive has achieved significant momentum, with the state having collected nearly 64 lakh metric tonnes of grain through its extensive network of 8,575 procurement centres. Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy made this announcement on Monday following field visits to procurement facilities in Thirumalagiri and Phanigiri in Suryapet district.

During his inspections, the minister examined various operational aspects including purchase volumes, stock movement, transportation logistics, and farmer payments. He noted that substantial quantities of paddy have already been transported to rice mills, substantially reducing congestion at procurement hubs.

The government has set an ambitious target to conclude all procurement activities in Suryapet district by the end of the first week of June. Similar directives have been issued to officials managing operations in Nalgonda district to maintain this accelerated timeline.

A cornerstone of the procurement drive has been the government's commitment to purchasing all marketable grain produced by farmers. The administration has also implemented special measures to protect cultivators, including purchases of rain-damaged paddy at the Minimum Support Price to shield growers from financial losses.

Financial disbursements have reached Rs 11,500 crore, benefiting 9.31 lakh farmers whose bank accounts have received direct transfers. The streamlined payment system now ensures farmers receive funds within 48 to 72 hours—a marked improvement from previous years when processing could stretch across weeks or months.

To address logistical constraints, authorities have mobilised all available transport vehicles, deploying lorries and heavy commercial vehicles to facilitate paddy movement from collection centres to mills.

Acknowledging the successful coordination, the minister commended district collectors, elected representatives, and Civil Supplies department personnel for their role in executing the procurement operations smoothly.

Underlining Telangana's agricultural prominence, Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted that the state has emerged as India's leading rice producer and accounts for approximately 63 per cent of the country's Yasangi paddy procurement. He also raised concerns about the Centre's procurement policy, noting that while Telangana is equipped to handle procurement up to 75 lakh metric tonnes, the Union government has committed to purchasing only around 51 lakh metric tonnes.

The minister expressed confidence that remaining procurement operations will be completed within the established timeframe and that all stocks will be successfully transferred to rice mills.