Gadwal, Telangana — Local farmers erupted in protest on Saturday after accusing government officials and private agents of favoring illegally imported paddy from Karnataka over crops grown in Telangana.
Farmers from Kondapuram, Venkatapuram, Eerlabanda, and Yarsandoddi villages said they were being denied fair access to local paddy procurement centers. Many claimed that only a small group of selected farmers were allowed to sell their produce, while others were turned away with excuses.
Angry over the rejection of their paddy, farmers in Kondapuram locked the IKP (Indira Kranthi Patham) procurement center and held a protest demanding fair treatment.
The main complaint: officials at the procurement centers, along with civil supplies staff and middlemen, allegedly brought in large shipments of paddy from Karnataka at night. Farmers say this grain is being sold at Telangana procurement centers under the pretense of being local produce.
This, they argue, is robbing genuine Telangana farmers of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and government-announced bonuses.
Protesters also accused IKP officials of corruption and bias. They claimed that officials allowed only politically connected farmers to sell paddy, while others were rejected for reasons like high moisture content—even when the grain met quality standards.
Despite raising complaints multiple times, farmers said higher authorities failed to act. Left with no choice, they resorted to protest.
“Our paddy is getting rejected,” said one frustrated farmer. “Meanwhile, rice from Karnataka is being accepted and sent to mills. Why are we being ignored in our own state?”
The farmers have issued a set of urgent demands:
– Stop buying paddy illegally brought from Karnataka
– Guarantee fair purchase of Telangana-grown paddy at MSP with bonuses
– Provide enough gunny bags and stop making unfair demands over moisture levels
– Punish corrupt officials and agents running this illegal trade
As the paddy procurement season continues, these serious allegations have shaken trust in the state’s grain purchasing system. Farmers have warned that if their demands are not met soon, they will escalate their protests.
