Telangana Procures 52 Lakh Tonnes of Paddy From Farmers

Hyderabad:The Telangana government has procured 51.86 lakh tonnes of paddy from farmers at minimum support price (MSP) as part of the ongoing Kharif paddy procurement operations, as of December 10.

Against the seasonal target of 80 lakh tonnes, officials said the procurement is progressing at an unprecedented pace, supported by timely payments and a wide network of procurement centres. The government has already transferred Rs 13,661 crore directly into farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours of purchase, which includes Rs 314 crore paid as a bonus for fine-variety paddy at Rs 500 per quintal.

For this Kharif season, the state set an all-time high procurement target of 80 lakh tonnes, in line with the record harvest. To prevent delays and ease logistical challenges, the civil supplies department established 8,342 procurement centres, the largest network ever in the state. These include 4,259 centres run by Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), 3,517 by IKP groups, and 566 by other agencies.

Of the total paddy procured so far, 26.37 lakh tonnes comprise the common (doddu) variety, while 25.49 lakh tonnes are fine-grade (sanna) grains. Officials noted a marked increase in the cultivation of fine varieties this season, driven by the government’s incentive of a `500 bonus per quintal.

Civil supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana has achieved a national milestone in agricultural production and procurement. He pointed out that the state’s paddy output touched 148.03 lakh metric tonnes, the highest recorded in independent India.

“For the first time in the country, a state government has taken up procurement of 80 lakh tonnes in a single Kharif season. This reflects both the capability of Telangana’s farming community and the government’s commitment to ensuring that every grain is purchased,” he said.