Mahabubnagar, Telangana – On Thursday, angry paddy farmers blocked National Highway 167 near the Jadcherla market yard, halting traffic for over two hours. Their protest was a plea for help, demanding the state government immediately buy their paddy.
For nearly three weeks, farmers say they’ve been ignored. Many have been waiting in the market yard for more than 20 days, camping with their harvested crops. They’re frustrated by the lack of action from government officials.
“We came here hoping the government would buy our paddy,” said Devuja Naik from Chinnagutta Tanda. “I brought in 10 tractor loads 15 days ago. No one has come to help. They say there are no gunny bags, and the millers are refusing to take our load. Meanwhile, our paddy is soaking in the rain.”
Farmers say the situation is getting worse because agriculture extension officers aren’t giving out procurement tokens on time. Without these tokens, farmers don’t know where to go or what to do next. Some officials reject the paddy due to high moisture content or poor cleaning, leaving farmers in limbo.
“The marketing department blames millers, and the agriculture staff says there aren’t enough resources,” said another farmer. “But none of that matters to us. Our paddy is getting ruined in the rain.”
Recent untimely rains have added to the chaos. Hundreds of paddy piles are lying out in the open without proper covers. Farmers say there’s not enough tarpaulin or shelter in the market yard. As a result, their grains are wet, damaged, and losing value.
“I spent ₹10,000 just to dry my paddy to meet the 13% moisture requirement,” said Dasya Nayak from Gollapally village. “Now, even after all that, there’s no assurance it will be accepted. I came here hoping to get the ₹500 bonus the government promised. But all I see is loss.”
Farmers also accuse millers of taking advantage of the situation. Some say they’re being pushed to sell at throwaway prices to avoid the struggle of going through official channels.
“If the government doesn’t want to buy, they should just say it clearly,” said one protester. “Why promise a bonus and then leave us stranded like this?”
There’s growing anger toward the ruling Congress government and the local MLA. Many farmers feel abandoned. “They only show up when it’s time to vote,” said a protester. “But when we’re in trouble, they’re nowhere to be seen.”
The protestors warned that if their issues aren’t solved in the next few days, they’ll start a district-wide protest. They stressed that this is not just a Jadcherla problem—farmers across Telangana are facing the same crisis.
With their crops rotting, income slipping away, and no one stepping in to help, the farmers’ protest is a cry for urgent action. The agriculture procurement system needs immediate attention to prevent further damage and help farmers survive.
