The Centre on Friday agreed to procure an additional 6.8 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice from Telangana for the Kharif season 2022-23. This is in addition to the recently approved procurement of 13.73 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice for the Rabi 2021-22 and Kharif 2022-23 kharif seasons.
Union minister G. Kishan Reddy who had written to his Cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal last month seeking the purchase of more rice expressed happiness over the decision and said it will help farmers who had suffered losses due to the recent untimely
rains.
He said that the Telangana government should take advantage of the Centre's decision and take steps to procure paddy from the farmers on a war footing, complete the milling and deliver the rice to the Food Corporation of India.
Kishan Reddy said that the Telangana government could not provide rice to FCI in time in Rabi 2021-22 and Kharif 2022-23. While the Centre had agreed to procure 6.33 lakh tonnes for these seasons, the state government is yet to deliver 1.9 lakh tonnes.