Uttam Kumar Reddy Inspects Paddy Procurement Centres, Reassures Suryapet Farmers
HYDERABAD — Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday visited and inspected paddy procurement centres at Thirumalagiri and Phanigiri in Suryapet district, reassuring local farmers that the state government would buy every grain of their produce.
Accompanied by Tungaturthi MLA Mandula Samuel along with district and civil supplies officials, the minister reviewed the pace of purchases, transport arrangements, lifting of stocks, and payments to farmers during the ongoing Yasangi paddy procurement operations.
Minister Reddy announced that Telangana had so far procured nearly 64 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy through a network of 8,575 procurement centres, marking the largest purchase network ever created in the state. He noted that the intensified drive has successfully moved large quantities of paddy to mills, which has reduced pressure on the purchase centres.
Addressing concerns about recent weather disruptions, the minister stated that even rain-soaked paddy is being purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). He assured farmers that the government machinery would continue working round the clock and stand by them until the last grain is purchased.
To support the farmers financially, the state government has already transferred ₹11,500 crore directly into the bank accounts of 9.31 lakh farmers for the procured paddy. To address transport shortages, officials have been directed to deploy all available lorries and heavy vehicles to expedite the movement of paddy to the mills.
The minister directed officials to complete the procurement process in Suryapet district by the end of the first week of June, adding that similar instructions had been issued for Nalgonda district.
During his visit, Reddy also criticised the Central Government's procurement policy. He stated that while Telangana was prepared to procure up to 75 LMT of paddy, the Union government agreed to purchase only about 51 LMT. According to the minister, this decision has forced the state government to bear a heavy financial burden.
