Konaseema Farmers in Distress with No Takers for Their Paddy

Rice millers are not coming forward to purchase the paddy for the minimum statutory price (MSP), saying there is no demand for exports.

Konaseema district has produced around 5.80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. State government has fixed a target of procuring 2.80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from the district.

Of this, the Civil Supplies Corporation has already bought 1.96 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. In some mandals, it has already completed the targeted procurement. At such mandals, Rythu Seva Kendras have stopped procuring paddy, saying the quota has already been fulfilled.

This is worrying Konaseema farmers, particularly those who have not yet harvested their produce. Given the circumstances, farmers are requesting the state government to increase the procurement target for the district. They say they have taken loans to buy fertilisers and pesticides. Many of the farmers have no facility where they can store their paddy.

Given the circumstances, Konaseema district joint collector T. Nishanti has convened a meeting with officials. An official said they have written a letter to the state government on Thursday seeking permission to procure an additional one lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers.

The joint collector asked the open market to cooperate in providing remunerative prices to farmers. In this regard, she pointed out that the state government has relaxed bank guarantees in 1:2 ratio for raw rice and 1:3 ratio for boiled rice.

Nishanti asked agricultural officials to work towards creating remunerative prices for farmers.