CM KCR reiterates that the State government will purchase the entire paddy crop from farmers

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao reiterated that the State government will purchase the entire paddy crop till the last grain from farmers at the procurement centres to be opened in their respective villages. He said as the COVID-19 pandemic is not completely eradicated, the State government agencies will be deployed to the villages to procure the entire crop for farmers’ benefit. He directed the officials to make arrangements for procurement of redgram crop as well.

Continuing his review meeting on paddy procurement with the Ministers and the officials at Pragathi Bhavan for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, the Chief Minister urged farmers not to worry about transporting their produce to the markets and selling it amid the ongoing crisis. He assured that just like the paddy procured from farmers in their respective villages during the recent Yasangi season, the State government will procure the entire crop from the villages. 

He reiterated that the State government will pay a Minimum Support Price of Rs 1,888 per quintal for A-grade variety and Rs 1,868 per quintal for B-grade variety, both having less than 17 per cent moisture content.

Stating that the paddy harvesting will be carried out for a period of nearly 45 days next, Chandrashekhar Rao directed the officials of the departments of Agriculture, Marketing and Civil Supplies to plan procurement accordingly and ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience during the process. He suggested them to come up with proper



estimations on the yield and develop an appropriate plan for paddy purchases accordingly.

Chandrashekhar Rao observed that due to increased irrigation facilities, even the fallow lands were being cultivated resulting in an increased agricultural activities. He expressed happiness that the farmers who migrated to the towns for livelihood, were returning to their native villages and taking up agriculture in the wake of the State government’s finance assistance under Rythu Bandhu scheme. “Under these circumstances, we must make fool proof arrangements to pay money to farmers soon after their paddy is sold and also arrange for necessary bank guarantees,” he asserted.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need to strengthen the Civil Supplies department in the wake of Telangana becoming an agrarian State and advised them to prepare an action plan in this regard. He appreciated the farmers for taking up regulated farming as suggested by the State government and cultivating redgram in about 10.78 lakh acres in the State. He instructed the officials to purchase redgram as well.

Ministers S Niranjan Reddy, Gangula Kamalakar, Mohd Mahmood Ali, A Indrakaran Reddy, Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation chairman Mareddy Srinivas Reddy, Mark Fed chairman Mara Gangareddy, Government Chief Adviser Rajiv Sharma, CMO Principal Secretary Narsing Rao, Agriculture Secretary B Janardhan Reddy, Civil Supplies Commissioner Anil Kumar and others were present.