Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao assured farmers that the Telangana Government will procure every grain of paddy damaged by untimely rains.
The CM told farmers not to worry about paddy which got wet in the rains. He made it clear that the government will pay the same price for damaged paddy as the one paid for normal paddy during procurement.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the Telangana government’s aim is to protect agriculture and help farmers.
In the context of the untimely rains, the CM directed the Agriculture Department to study what policies should be adopted so that Yasangi paddy harvesting can be completed before March.
The CM also asked farmers to postpone harvesting for another three to four days.
The Chief Minister held a high level review meeting on the procurement of Yasangi paddy and wet paddy, measures to ensure early harvesting of Yasangi paddy in future and programmes of the Agriculture department at the secretariat on Tuesday.
“The Telangana Government’s schemes for the development of agriculture are helping farmers and the state is a role model for the country. Telangana has overtaken many states in paddy production. The government is procuring every grain of paddy from farmers. The TS Government is the only one in the country which is implementing an action plan for the welfare of farmers.
It is unfortunate that the state is getting untimely rains. The government is already supporting farmers who have lost crops in hailstorms by providing Rs 10,000 per acre. We have decided to procure wet paddy. We will complete paddy procurement as soon as possible and farmers need not worry,” the CM said.
The officials explained to the CM about the details of procurement of Yasangi paddy which is already going on across the state. The officials told the CM that some difficulties were faced in procurement due to the untimely rains.
Civil Supplies Commissioner Anil Kumar explained to the CM that procurement will be completed soon. As the state is likely to have rains for three to four days, the CM advised farmers to stop harvesting paddy so that the grain does not get wet.
The CM advised both the agriculture department and farmers to take this untimely rain as a lesson and create awareness to prevent future losses.
The CM requested farmers to take up paddy plantation in advance and ensure that Yasangi paddy harvesting is completed by March-end.
The CM directed the Agriculture Department to conduct more scientific studies and to sensitise farmers. Farmers should also be made aware of the use of fertilizers, the CM said.
He asked officials to create awareness among farmers on the changes in agricultural practices through leaflets, posters, advertisements etc.
He directed the Secretary of the Agriculture Department, Raghunandan Rao, to alert officials and that they should always be available to farmers.
The CM made it clear that officials should work at the field level using Rythu Vedikas (farmers’ platforms). Strict action will be taken if officials fail to discharge duties sincerely. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari has been asked to carry out surprise inspections, he said.
