The Telangana government has procured 70 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy as of Wednesday and is poised to surpass the previous Rabi procurement record of 74 LMT set last year.
Record Procurement Expected
Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the state is on track to exceed last year's record, with procurement already reaching 70.06 LMT. An additional 4.95 LMT remains to be procured at purchase centres, while further arrivals from fields over the next week are expected to push total procurement beyond the 74.2 LMT benchmark, setting a new state record.
Operational Review and Bottleneck Resolution
During a review meeting with officials, the minister instructed district collectors and civil supplies officials to resolve bottlenecks on a war footing, particularly in districts where procurement is still ongoing. Despite challenges from weather conditions and a shortage of hamalis (manual labourers), Telangana is likely to close the season with higher procurement levels than last year.
Focus Districts
Special attention is to be given to Nizamabad, Nirmal, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, and Vikarabad districts, where paddy arrivals are expected to continue for the next 10 days. The minister urged officials to push these districts to finish procurement before the monsoon gains momentum, ensuring farmers do not suffer due to weather-related disruptions. Procurement operations in several districts are nearing completion, with Suryapet and Nalgonda expected to finish in a day or two.
Storage and Logistics
Reddy also reviewed storage arrangements and directed officials to address space constraints immediately. Officials reported that additional storage facilities had been identified in districts facing shortages. The minister reviewed the movement of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) and instructed officials to expedite transportation and storage to ensure smooth procurement of fresh arrivals.
Welfare of Hamalis and Sweepers
The minister emphasized extending better welfare measures for hamalis and improving their working conditions. The state currently has 170 supply control points, employing approximately 3,000 to 3,120 hamalis and sweepers who ensure timely movement of essential commodities. He directed district collectors and civil supplies officials to increase their existing rates.
Furthermore, Reddy ordered a special drive to identify hamalis and sweepers eligible for Indiramma houses. He also requested arranging insurance coverage for these workers, particularly for accidents and unforeseen incidents during work. It was noted that workers holding ration cards are already covered under the Indiramma Kutumba Jeevitha Bhima scheme.
