Speed Up Paddy Procurement. Says Palvai

 Hyderabad: The BJP demanded that the Revanth Reddy government speed up procurement and purchase all the paddy harvested by farmers including stocks that were affected by rain. Addressing a press conference, BJP MLA Dr Palvai Harish Babu charged that the civil supplies department had failed in procurement of the paddy even 45 days after the Rabi season had ended.

Stating that the Rabi season would end in a fortnight and farmers must gear up for the Kharif season, Dr Harish Babu claimed that the department had purchased only 25 per cent the paddy procurement so far. He said that farmers were facing severe hardships in storing the grain due to the uncertain weather conditions. He claimed that the government was not in a position to give Rs 2,203 per quintal minimum support price set by the Centre for Grade A paddy and `2183 for the common category.

Dr Harish Babu accused the officials and other staff of indulging in malpractices by claiming that he paddy had higher moisture content and pushing the farmers into a corner. Farmers were being forced to sell Grade A paddy at Rs 1,900 to middlemen, and `1,850 for common category and alleged that there was a conspiracy to ensure this. Rice millers and traders were selling Grade A paddy at Rs 2,500 to Rs 2.800 in the open market, he claimed.

Dr Harish Babu demanded that the state government pay compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre for crop loss to the farmers and strictly implement the PM Fasal Bima Yojana from the Kharif season

BJP Assembly floor leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy demanded the resignation of minister Uttam Kumar Reddy for his failure in paddy procurement. The procurement centers were collecting 3 to 4 kg extra for a paddy bag of 40 kg by citing moisture and other reasons, he alleged. Rice millers, who had no role in the process, had been acting as middlemen and directly calling the farmers and interfering in paddy procurement, he charged.