Telangana: Bumper yield expected

Khammam: Despite unfavourable conditions such as lack of water to the NSP left canal ayacut, paddy yield is expected to be better in Khammam district. 

The civil supplies officials plan to procure one lakh tonnes of paddy from November to February in kharif 2017-18. Paddy was sown under minor and medium irrigation projects in Sattupalli, Kallur, Khammam Rural, Mudigonda, Kusumanchi, Nelakondapalli and Vemsoor mandals in the district. 

Officials devised a meticulous plan vis-a-vis procurement this year to solve the problems of the farmers. Last year, farmers were forced to wait for unusually long periods of time at the procurement centres, some even spending over a week, to sell their produce.

As per the plan, over 75 paddy lifting centres will be opened in the first week of November. IKP was asked to open 20 centres and PACS 40. 

Farmers would have to submit the samples first to the officials manning the centres who will check the quality and moisture content. 

If the paddy meets the guidelines set by the state, the farmers will be given tokens and asked to come on a particular day to the paddy lifting centre with their produce. This is designed to eliminate waiting and the entire sale can be completed within a few hours. 

The payment will be done within one week and the amount deposited directly into the  bank accounts of the farmers.

Paddy was sown in one lakh hectares in the district and about 4.5 lakh tonne is expected to reach the market this year. 

The civil supplies department will procure 5,000 tonnes in November, 48,000 in December, 42,000 in January and 5,000 in February. Millers from AP will also come to Khammam and lift quality rice from the district.