Telangana allocates ₹18,250 crore for record paddy procurement this Kharif season

Telangana has allocated ₹18,250 crore to procure 65 lakh tonnes of paddy in the current Kharif season, with 8,283 purchase centres set to open across the state by October 1.

Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to ensure farmers face no delays at purchase centres or payment disbursements during the massive procurement drive. The network will comprise 3,180 IKP centres, 4,372 PACS centres and 731 other facilities, all scheduled to be operational before production arrives from October 15.

Bonus for seven preferred varieties

The Centre has fixed the minimum support price at ₹2,461 per quintal for Grade-A paddy and ₹2,441 for common varieties. Telangana will add a ₹500 per quintal bonus for seven preferred varieties: BPT-5204, RNR-15048, KNM-1638, Jaisriram, HMT-Sona, WGL-44 and KNM-7715.

Reddy said the seven varieties were chosen after the government studied domestic and international markets and identified strains that command better prices. The aim is to ensure farmers receive remunerative prices whether through government procurement or in the open market, he added.

119 lakh tonnes expected

Officials estimate Kharif paddy production at 119.57 lakh tonnes from 57.7 lakh acres under cultivation this season. The government is preparing to procure 45 lakh tonnes of fine varieties and 20 lakh tonnes of common varieties.

Reddy flagged transportation challenges and told officials to verify that contractors bidding for haulage actually possess or have assured access to the required number of lorries. Transportation bottlenecks must not disrupt lifting of paddy from purchase centres, he warned.

Against a total requirement of 16.25 crore gunny bags, 3.50 crore are presently available and the balance is under procurement.

The minister addressed Additional Collectors, District Civil Supplies Officers, District Managers of TGSCSCL and other officials from across the state at a Vanakalam procurement review. Civil Supplies Commissioner M. Stephenson Ravindra, Director S. Shyam Prasad and Additional Director Rohit Singh were among the state officials present.

Source: The Hindu