Telangana decides to procure paddy produced in Yasangi

Telangana government has decided to procure paddy produced in the State during Yasangi in the backdrop of the Centre’s stubborn attitude in turning down the State government’s request for procurement of paddy. This decision was taken at the State cabinet which met for more than five hours in Hyderabad.

Briefing media after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao appealed to the farmers not to resort to distress sale of paddy while promising to procure every single grain of paddy from farmers. He said entire Government machinery would be geared up to begin the paddy procurement in a day or two.

The Government’s decision on paddy procurement comes in the bacdrop of Centre refusing to concede to Telangana’s request on paddy procurement. Chandrashekhar Rao explained at length the factors that led to massive increase in agricultural production ever since the State was formed in 2014. 

Sustained efforts of his government in repairing the tanks under Mission Kakatiya programme, supply of quality and uninterrupted power supply, re-engineering of the irrigation projects that led to completion of world’s



larget multi-stage lift irrigation project Kaleshwaram, financial assitance to farmers in schemes like Rytu Bandhu, Rytu Bheema and other proactive steps from his govenrnment followed by good monsoons in the last three or four years resulted in a massive jump in agricultural production in Telangana.

However, the Centre which was adopting an anti-farmer stance consistently was refusing to procure paddy, despite repeated requested by him and his council of ministers. Chandrasekhar Rao alleged that the Centre’s actions were indicative of a broader plan to push the entire agriculture sector into the hands of corporates. He said he would shortly in convening a meeting of intellectuals and political parties to decide the future course of action.

The other cabinet decisions included: Withdrawal of GO 111, approval for setting up six private universities including an agricultural university, approcal for a second run way in the Rajia Gandhi International Airport, and filling up of 3500 vacancies for teaching and non-teaching posts in all the universities and formation of a recruitment board for this purpose.