Paddy procurement tardy in Krishna, NTR districts

PNS|Vijayawada

Paddy procurement is taking place slowly both in Krishna and NTR districts though the harvest started one month ago. As the State government had delayed the payments last time, the farmers are not interested in selling their grains at the paddy procurement centres in Krishna and NTR districts and they are approaching middlemen for speedy payments.

Though the State government has announced that 486 procurement centres would be set up in Krishna and NTR districts for the purchase of paddy, the procurement process is happening slowly due to the non-opening of several centres.

As per the official data, about 6,800 tonnes of paddy was procured from 387 farmers in Krishna and 1,800 tonnes from 50 farmers in NTR district. Millers and middlemen are purchasing the grains at the paddy procurement centres, even though Sachivalayam staff and volunteers are present there.

According to sources, the Civil Supplies Department has paid Rs.2 crore to the farmers in Krishna district and Rs.80 lakh to those NTR district farmers. The State government has permitted the sale of paddy to others if they are willing to pay the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs.2, 060 for Grade-A per quintal and Rs.2, 040 for common grade variety per quintal.

The Agricultural Department has expected about 5.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy yielding in Krishna district and 1.24 lakh MT in NTR district. For this, both the district administrations have arranged 486 procurement centres at the YSR Rythu Bharosa Kendars (RBK) — 316 in Krishna and 170 in NTR district.

“If we sell paddy to the middlemen, we may lose Rs.500 per quintal. But we will receive the amount within two weeks. The State government will not give the money until it’s at least one month,” said farmers.