Farmers Upset as Boiled Rice Paddy Procurement Stalled
Several farmers had stored their produce expecting better prices, as rice millers were initially purchasing the variety above the Minimum Support Price
KAKINADA: Farmers who cultivated Bondalu paddy, a variety used for producing boiled rice, have expressed concern over the suspension of procurement at Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs), leaving stocks unsold and causing uncertainty ahead of the monsoon.
Several farmers had stored their produce expecting better prices, as rice millers were initially purchasing the variety above the Minimum Support Price. However, with procurement now halted, millers have stopped buying the paddy, leaving farmers with limited options.
Yalla Veerabhadra Rao, a tenant farmer from Pedapudi mandal, said he has 160 bags of paddy awaiting buyers. He urged the authorities to resume procurement immediately, warning that unseasonal rains could damage the stored produce.
Kakinada district civil supplies corporation manager MD Naick said the district had already achieved its procurement target of 1.50 lakh metric tonnes of boiled-rice paddy and was awaiting approval for an enhanced allocation.
He said there was a possibility of an additional procurement target of 30,000 metric tonnes.
Naick said there was no restriction on the procurement of raw-rice paddy and farmers cultivating such varieties could continue to sell their produce through RSK centres.
Joint collector Apoorva Bharat said paddy procurement for the 2025–26 rabi marketing season was in progress and that 2,29,495.685 metric tonnes of paddy had been procured in Kakinada district so far.
He said the state civil supplies corporation had allotted the district targets of supplying 15,000 metric tonnes of raw rice and 85,000 metric tonnes of boiled rice to the FCI.
To meet these targets, rice millers have been directed to expedite deliveries of custom-milled rice. The joint collector recently inspected rice mills in Jaggampet, Kirlampudi, Prathipadu, Karapa and Kajuluru mandals and instructed millers to accelerate deliveries to the FCI and civil supplies corporation in accordance with the prescribed schedule.
Apoorva Bharat said all stakeholders had been directed to complete the targets within the stipulated time-frame. He warned that strict action would be taken against millers who fail to meet CMR delivery obligations as per agreement conditions and existing regulations.
He also directed rice millers to comply with government orders and ensure timely completion of their delivery targets.