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.
According to the Civil Supplies Corporation officials, about 6,950 procurement centres were opened to purchase the paddy produced during the last Kharif (Vanakalam) season when the crop was cultivated in about 62 lakh acres and the procurement exercise went on for about four months. Last Rabi season, about 6,970 procurement centres were opened with cultivation of paddy taken up in a record extent of over 52.5 lakh acres.
This rabi season, the requirement of procurement centres is estimated in the same measures as they were during the last two crop seasons – 2020-21 Rabi and 2021-22 Kharif as the uncertainty over the procurement has delayed the commencement of the exercise by two weeks and the as stated by Civil Supplies Minister G. Kamalakar, the government is committed to complete procurement by June first week.
Citing examples of plans finalised on procurement centres, officials stated that about 236 centres would be opened in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts and another 155 in Hanmakonda district. About 3 lakh tonnes of paddy is expected to be procured in the three districts. Minister for Transport P. Ajay Kumar inaugurated a procurement centre at Manchukonda in Raghunathapalem mandal of Khammam district on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Civil Supplies Department has decided to open at least 51 check-posts in the State’s borders with Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Karnataka to prevent paddy produced in those States reaching the procurement centres in Telangana. The vigil would be more stringent since the procurement is being done by the State Government on its own.
All transport vehicles entering Telangana through those check-post routes would be inspected before allowing them in.
