TS farmers intensify stir for early paddy purchase

HYDERABAD: Protesting farmers have further intensified their agitation against delay in paddy purchases by the state government. They found fault with a section of rice millers and other officials for the delay in the procurement of paddy. Paddy of the yasangi season has been piling up in villages and farmers are in a hurry to dispose of it.

Changing temperatures and untimely rains are also adversely affecting paddy stocks in villages. Towards this, the farmers are demanding immediate purchase of their produce. Citing excess moisture content, shortage of gunny bags and other reasons, the officials and rice millers are refusing to purchase the paddy, lamented many anguished farmers.

Unable to cope with the situation after the unseasonal rains wreaked havoc, farmers are targetting mandal tahsildar and primary agriculture cooperative society (PACS) offices and rice mills in various districts. The agitations are more intense in the undivided Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Medak, Nalgonda districts.