Telangana: Hit by delays in paddy procurement, Rabi farmers cry for attention

Procurement issues have been widely reported across Telangana, with farmers struggling due to coordination issues resulting in transportation problems and slow movement of paddy from procurement centers to rice mills

Hyderabad: Unseasonal rainfall on Tuesday evening at Lakshmidevigudem in Nalgonda district resulted in deep distress among farmers. The lack of adequate transport facilities has been prolonging the procurement process, forcing farmers to protest. In response, they staged a protest squatting on the Nalgonda-Devarakonda highway.

Farmer Nagulavancha Srinivasa Rao expressed frustration that his 260 bags of paddy had been weighed five days ago but could not be lifted promptly. Due to the unexpected rains, the grain got wet, requiring one more spell of additional drying. He resented that such logistical delays and unpredictable weather conditions are creating financial and operational burdens.

Procurement issues have been widely reported across Telangana, with farmers struggling due to coordination issues resulting in transportation problems and slow movement of paddy from procurement centers to rice mills. The Munugode Lorry Association has formally petitioned the Tehsildar, urging authorities to assign a unique serial number to trucks transporting paddy from Munugode Mandal.

Trucks carrying paddy from other mandals, such as Chandur, Kanagal, and Nalgonda, are also arriving at the same mills in Munugode, leading to congestion and long wait times for unloading. Trucks originating from Munugode are forced to wait for four to five days before unloading at rice mills, slowing down the procurement process. Farmers fear that such delays may further impact their produce, especially given the unseasonal weather.

The state has set a target to procure 70 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy during the Rabi 2025 season, with an estimated production of 127 LMT from 54.89 lakh acres under cultivation. The procurement drive is expected to peak in April-May, with targets of 27.32 LMT in April and 34.21 LMT in May. But it is lagging behind the schedule. As of May 2, 29 LMT of paddy had reached procurement centers, with 19.6 LMT procured from 2.55 lakh farmers.

As of now, close to 25 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procured. But the achievement is not close to even the mid point of the targeted operations. The government has allocated Rs15,000 crore to ensure timely and smooth procurement.

Officials assured farmers that an adequate number of trucks would be made available and the procurement center would be cleared promptly. Despite these assurances, logistical and administrative hurdles continue to pose serious problems to the paddy procurement efforts.

• Unseasonal rains continue to play havoc with paddy farmers impacting procurement.
• Logistical issues has slowed procurement, prompting farmers to stage protests
• Munugode Lorry Association petitioned for unique serial numbers for paddy transport trucks
• Telangana government aims to procure 70 LMT, but realisation is not even half.