Palnadu Farmers Fear Price Crash as Millers Import Paddy from Telangana
Farmers across Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh are facing mounting anxiety as the Rabi harvest approaches, with fears of a sharp decline in paddy prices due to large-scale procurement of stocks from neighboring Telangana by local rice millers. This advance stocking threatens to undermine the local market just as crops are about to reach mandis.
Night-Time Imports and Stockpiling Raise Alarms
According to reports from farmers in Macharla, Gurazala, and Rentachintala mandals, millers have already begun purchasing paddy in bulk from Telangana, where the Rabi crop was harvested earlier. Lorry loads of paddy, particularly from Nalgonda district, are being transported into Palnadu during night hours and stored in local rice mills. This influx is creating a surplus that could severely depress prices when local farmers bring their produce to market in the coming weeks.
Farmers Appeal for Government Intervention
The issue was highlighted during a public grievance redressal program, where farmers submitted representations to District Collector Kritika Shukla, urging immediate action. They appealed to authorities to prevent the inflow of paddy from Telangana and safeguard the interests of local growers. Nagam Venkateswarlu, a farmer from Karampudi, expressed his frustration: "Every year, we are forced to sell at prices ₹300 to ₹500 below MSP. If millers continue to procure from outside in advance, our situation will worsen."
Recurring Problem from Previous Seasons
Farmers recalled a similar situation during the previous Kharif season, when millers allegedly used excuses such as high moisture content and excess stocks to procure paddy at reduced prices. Instead of offering the Minimum Support Price (MSP), millers paid only ₹1,100 to ₹1,200 per 75kg bag, resulting in significant financial losses for cultivators. With paddy cultivated on nearly 50,000 acres across the district this season, there is widespread concern that history may repeat itself.
Demands for Border Vigilance and Regulatory Action
The farmers have demanded that civil supplies officials intensify vigilance at inter-state borders, halt the movement of paddy-laden lorries, and ensure that local millers prioritize procurement from within the district. They stressed that timely government intervention is crucial to stabilize prices and protect livelihoods during the ongoing procurement season. However, officials note that there is no specific restriction on transporting paddy between states if millers have proper purchase bills.
Precedents of Interstate Restrictions
Telangana previously imposed restrictions on the movement of paddy from Andhra Pradesh to prevent malpractices during procurement by the civil supplies department. Similarly, Andhra Pradesh conducted raids during the peak Kharif season to prevent mass procurement of rice stocks by millers. Farmers now seek similar inspections at inter-state borders to curb the transport of stocks from Telangana, arguing that such measures are necessary to ensure fair pricing and support local agriculture.
