Centre: Paddy procurement from Telangana to continue

HYDERABAD: The Centre on Saturday clarified that the paddy procurement in Telangana state would continue to take place as before at the existing MSP (minimum support price) as per the MoU signed between the Telangana state government and the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

A clarification issued by the spokesperson, department of food and public distribution, Government of India, on Saturday, said, "It is to bring to the notice of all that a factually wrong news is being spread around in a section of media that the Centre stopped paddy procurement in the Telangana state. The department of food and public distribution clarified that all paddy procurement in Telangana will continue as before at the existing MSP."

However, this clarification created more confusion as it did not specify whether it was about kharif or rabi procurement or both.

It was only on Friday that Union food minister Piyush Goyal during his talks on paddy procurement issue with the Telangana state government's delegation comprising of ministers S. Niranjan Reddy, Errabelli Dayakar Rao and Ch Malla Reddy categorically stated that the Centre would not procure paddy from Telangana state in rabi and also did not declare ongoing kharif paddy procurement target.

With the Centre's clarification creating confusion, chief secretary Somesh Kumar sprung into action to clear the air surrounding paddy procurement. In a press release issued here, the chief secretary said, “The Central government and the FCI decided not to procure parboiled rice from Telangana at all. However, paddy grown in Telangana in the Yasangi (rabi) season is suitable only for parboiled rice due to seasonal conditions. Therefore, it is pertinent that farmers should not take up paddy cultivation in Yasangi. However, farmers who have tie-ups with seed companies, rice millers or for self-consumption can take up paddy at their own risk."

The Chief Secretary held a video conference along with DGP M. Mahender Reddy with all the district collectors, SPs, CPs, additional collectors, district agriculture officers, district supply officers etc. on paddy procurement from BRKR Bhavan on Saturday.

"Certain instances of paddy coming from other states to our PPCs have been noticed. The collectors and SPs/CPs are directed to ensure that no outside paddy is taken in the Telangana PPCs. It will act against the interest of Telangana farmers. It is known that the Centre has allotted only 40 lakh MTs of rice as target for procurement of Vanakalam 2021 (kharif) paddy production," he stated.