Procurement of paddy produced this rabi (Yasangi) season by the State Civil Supplies Corporation with the help of other participating agencies commenced at several places in Telangana on Thursday, following a decision taken at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting to procure the grain at minimum support price by the State Government.
Harvesting of paddy has already commenced on a large scale in districts such as Suryapet, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Jagitial, where transplantation is done early, and it is likely to gain momentum in other districts by the end of April third week. According to the Agriculture Department estimates, about 80 lakh tonnes of grain is likely to reach markets this season with another 10 lakh tonnes earmarked for seed purposes and consumption by producers (farmers).
Even after a section of farmers selling their produce directly to millers and traders, initially at MSP and for less price for the last week-10 days, about 65 lakh tonnes of paddy is expected to reach the procurement centres to be handled by women self-help (IKP) groups, primary agricultural cooperative credit societies (PACS) and a few other agencies.
