150 Lakh MT of Paddy Expected: Minister Uttam

 Hyderabad: Civil supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to ensure a smooth paddy procurement process across Telangana.

At a video conference with district collectors and the principal secretary and civil supplies commissioner D.S. Chauhan, the minister insisted on meticulous planning as kharif paddy stocks start arriving at procurement centres in large quantities.

He said that this season's paddy harvest was expected to be 150 lakh metric tonnes worth Rs 30,000 crore. The state has allocated Rs 20,000 crore for procurement, with a provision for additional funds as and when needed.

The government anticipates strong cooperation from millers following an increase in milling charges by Rs 40 for fine paddy and Rs 30 for coarse paddy, he said. The minister explained that the government is now moving towards securitising stocks, requiring a 10 per cent bank guarantee from millers with clean records, while those with a history of default must provide a 20 per cent guarantee.

Reddy empowered district collectors to take local decisions while keeping the civil supplies commissioner duly informed so as to ensure seamless operations. The government has set up intermediary godowns with 30 lakh metric tonnes storage capacity to handle contingencies.

In case of delays, the collectors should store paddy in godowns managed by the state warehousing corporation or agricultural marketing committees.

Uttam Reddy underscored the critical nature of the one-month procurement exercise, stating that 4,598 paddy procurement centres are currently operational. He urged officials to open all 7,572 centres immediately and, if necessary, establish additional centres. He said that the government has taken a historic step by giving Rs 500 bonus over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for fine paddy. Therefore, he said the paddy procurement this season was historic for more than one reason. Further, he said that effective from January, all ration cardholders and BPL families would receive fine rice.

The minister stated that borders would be strictly monitored to prevent paddy or rice of other states entering Telangana, ensuring that the `500 bonus benefits Telangana farmers alone.

He instructed officials to equip all paddy procurement centres (PPCs) with the necessary infrastructure to prevent crop loss due to unseasonal rains.

"We are authorising district collectors to take immediate and decisive actions. The government will subsequently reimburse expenses. The aim is to prevent any damage to farmers' produce due to delays or weather-related issues," he said.

Emphasising the importance of timely procurement, Uttam Reddy cautioned that delays at even a single centre, leading to spoilage or moisture increase, would not be tolerated.

He appealed to all district collectors to ensure this record-breaking procurement exercise proceeds smoothly, reflecting positively of the government.