Uttam Slams Centre on Paddy Procurement

Hyderabad:Civil supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Centre’s approach towards paddy procurement was “demonstrative of scant concern for farmers” despite Telangana handling one of the country’s largest grain purchase operations. The Congress government in Telangana was procuring paddy on a scale unmatched by most BJP‑ruled states while the Centre was “failing to discharge its responsibility” towards farmers, he said.

During an informal media interaction, Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana had procured nearly 54 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy and was targeting around 70 LMT during the ongoing Yasangi season through 8,575 centres. “The paddy procured by the state must be lifted by the Centre at the declared MSP. The Centre cannot evade its responsibility after announcing minimum support price,” the Minister asserted.

Accusing BJP leaders of indulging in political criticism while ignoring ground realities, Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana was purchasing more paddy than several BJP‑governed states put together. “Before criticising Telangana, BRS leaders should first check how much procurement happened during their ten‑year rule. Even compared to the previous regime, this government has procured more paddy and ensured faster payments to farmers,” he said.

The minister claimed the state government was ensuring procurement till the “last grain” and depositing payments into farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours. He also highlighted the financial burden being borne by the state government due to delays and gaps in Central support. According to him, Telangana had spent nearly ₹9,000 crore towards procurement payments this season by May‑end and would cross around ₹11,500 crore if MSP‑linked dues were fully accounted for.

Taking a political swipe at the BJP, Uttam Kumar Reddy questioned the rationale behind Central leaders undertaking political tours in Telangana while allegedly remaining indifferent to procurement responsibilities.