HYDERABAD: Calling paddy procurement the most sensitive and high-stakes programme in the wake of adverse weather conditions, Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said that the state government is prepared to spend over Rs 15,000 crore to ensure smooth and timely procurement of paddy during the current Rabi season.
He also directed the authorities concerned to make all necessary arrangements to ensure a hassle-free procurement process.
Uttam, along with Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao, held a video conference with all district collectors from the Civil Supplies department headquarters here in the city.
Civil Supplies Commissioner DS Chauhan and other senior officials participated in the meeting, which focused on reviewing the procurement process, pre-empting challenges and ensuring rapid responses to unseasonal weather conditions and field-level logistical issues.
70 LMT paddy to be procured
Speaking on the occasion, Uttam said that the state government has planned to procure around 70 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy through an extensive network of 8,381procurement centres established across all districts, and added that it would take the total procurement this year to 127 LMT.
“This is the government’s most sensitive and high-stakes programme right now. Besides safeguarding the interest of farmers, it is also linked to the government’s prestige,” he said.
“If you face any issues, speak to the civil supplies commissioner. If unresolved, call me directly. We are ready to step in at any moment,” he added.
The minister instructed the collectors to take every precaution to protect harvested paddy from rain and heat, ensuring zero spoilage and zero inconvenience to farmers.
The authorities informed the ministers that over 23 LMT of paddy had arrived at procurement centres and 19.60 LMT were already purchased from around 2.55 lakh farmers as on April 29.
They also informed them that payments worth Rs 2,289.81 crore have already been credited to farmers’ accounts against a total MSP value of Rs 4,545.72 crore, with the remaining under process. A bonus amount of Rs 444.20 crore is also being readied, they added.
The minister appreciated the proactive efforts of the Karimnagar collector in purchasing dryers and urged other districts to adopt similar measures. “Such interventions help protect the quality of paddy and speed up operations,” he added.