Telangana Sets Ambitious Target for Rabi Paddy Procurement
In a significant move to bolster agricultural prosperity, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced a comprehensive action plan on Monday for the procurement of an all-time high target of 90 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy during the ongoing rabi season in Telangana. The announcement came during a preparatory meeting held in Hyderabad, where officials including additional collectors, district civil supplies officers, and district managers of the civil supplies corporation were present to discuss strategies for the upcoming season.
Projected Cultivation and Procurement Details
The minister revealed that paddy cultivation is projected across 54.48 lakh acres, with an expected yield of 1.52 crore metric tonnes. To manage this substantial output, the State Civil Supplies Corporation has set an ambitious procurement target of 90 LMT, comprising 60 LMT of coarse variety and 30 LMT of fine variety paddy. This initiative aims to build on the state's previous successes, particularly the record performance in the kharif season, positioning Telangana as a leader in food security and agricultural growth.
MSP Rates and Farmer Support Measures
Reiterating the government's commitment to farmer welfare, Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the minimum support price (MSP) rates for the season: 2,389 per quintal for Grade A paddy and 2,369 per quintal for the common variety. He emphasized that these rates would provide a significant boost to farmers' income and serve as a safety net against market fluctuations, ensuring transparency and building farmer confidence in the procurement process.
Infrastructure and Logistics Preparedness
To achieve the record-level procurement target, the minister outlined key measures that officials must implement immediately. All procurement will strictly adhere to the announced MSP rates, with sufficient gunny bags already positioned across centres. Officials have been directed to arrange adequate vehicles in advance for seamless movement of paddy from Primary Procurement Centres (PPCs) to rice mills. Each PPC will be equipped with essential tools such as tarpaulins, electronic weighing scales, moisture meters, automatic paddy cleaners, digital dial callipers, and husk removers.
Monitoring and Farmer Welfare Initiatives
Emphasizing zero distress sales, Uttam Kumar Reddy assured full procurement of every grain, backed by robust monitoring systems. Supervisory teams will be constituted at the constituency, mandal, and PPC levels for real-time monitoring of procurement operations. With large quantities of paddy expected, officials have been instructed to identify sufficient vacant godowns immediately to prevent distress sales and protect harvested paddy from spoilage. Additionally, acknowledging the risk of unseasonal showers, the minister directed the use of the Weather App for issuing alert notes and taking precautionary measures to safeguard paddy stocks.
Health and Safety Measures for Farmers
As summer conditions intensify, the minister highlighted the importance of farmer well-being. Farmers visiting PPCs will be educated to rest in sheds or tents, and Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) sachets will be made available at all centres to prevent sunstroke. Collectors and additional collectors have been instructed to personally visit every PPC and resolve issues on the spot, ensuring a smooth and supportive environment for farmers.
Uttam Kumar Reddy concluded by stating that the entire exercise is aimed at preventing any distress to farmers, learning from past successes to make the rabi 2025-26 season the best yet. This ambitious roadmap is expected to further strengthen Telangana's position in agricultural prosperity, contributing to national food security goals.
