Telangana rules out procuring paddy from farmers in Rabi season

Telangana state has ruled out procuring paddy from farmers in Rabi season henceforth. State Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has made this clear while addressing a media conference last evening following the Cabinet meeting.

The Chief Minister said the state government will not set up paddy purchasing centres in Rabi season as it was being done all these years and decision to this effect was taken at the Cabinet meeting.

He cited the Centre's refusal to procure parboiled rice



from Telangana from this rabi season.  He asked farmers to sow paddy only if they had purchase agreements with seed companies or rice millers or for their own consumption.

However, he said that the state government will procure paddy from farmers produced in the recent Kharif season. He further said the Food Corporation of India officials informed that they will procure 40 lakh tonnes of rice that will be produced in the Kharif this year.