PNS|Nizamabad
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday asserted that the Telangana Government is fully equipped for the Rabi 2024–25 paddy procurement season with all necessary infrastructure, including gunny bags, tarpaulin covers, callipers, dryers and procurement centres in place across the state.
He said that the government had taken proactive measures to ensure farmers faced no hurdles.
“Gunny bags, weighing machines, grain callipers and tarpaulins are available in required quantities. Every procurement centre is equipped to handle large volumes. Paddy procurement is being conducted in a transparent, accountable manner,” he said, addressing the ‘Telangana Rythu Mahotsavam’ in Nizamabad.
Uttam said that Telangana is on track to record the highest paddy procurement in the country, with a Rabi target of 70.13 lakh metric tonnes.
Combined with the Vanakalam season’s 153.5 LMT the total annual paddy production in 2024–25 would touch 281 LMTs, making Telangana the largest contributor in India.
He revealed that 8,329 procurement centres had been proposed, and some districts like Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Suryapet had achieved 100% operational status.
Storage capacity across Telangana stood at 64.65 LMTs, with 25 LMTs currently vacant. Additional storage was also available with rice mills and could be supplemented through Agricultural Market Committees, the State Warehousing Corporation and private godowns.
He said Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) and other manpower had been trained to detect grain quality as per the notified standards. Separate classification mechanisms and a three-tier appeal process were in place to resolve disputes between farmers and officials.
He also highlighted the government’s use of weather forecast alerts and mobile dryers to protect paddy from unseasonal rains and advised farmers to pre-dry and clean their produce before bringing it to procurement centres.
Reiterating the Congress Government’s commitment to farmers, Uttam said Telangana had become the only state to provide free fine rice through the PDS to 84% of its population.
“The BRS admin distributed coarse rice that was not even edible, and a mafia controlled the diversion of PDS rice. We have ended that and have introduced a revolutionary change to ensure the poor receive high-quality fine rice,” he said.
