Hyderabad: Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced on Monday that the procurement of paddy will start in the first week of October and continue until January. He also instructed officials to offer a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal to farmers who produce superfine varieties of paddy.
The Minister shared that the government will establish 7,139 procurement centers across the state. Of these, 4,496 will be set up through primary agricultural cooperative societies, 2,102 through IKP centers, and 541 through other avenues. On Monday, a special review meeting was held with State Joint Collectors, District Civil Supplies Officers, and District-Level Civil Supplies Departmental Managers to discuss the purchase of the 2023-24 Kharif crop. The meeting took place at the Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resource Development Institute (MCRHRD).
The Rs 500 bonus is intended to encourage farmers to grow the superfine variety of paddy, which the Minister described as a “revolutionary decision.” He highlighted the importance of farmers, calling them the backbone of the state, and reiterated that the paddy procurement process will continue from October to the end of January.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also warned that paddy will not be given to millers who have committed irregularities in the past. He urged officials to maintain transparency in paddy purchases, emphasizing that the process involves public funds. He also called for strict measures to prevent the import of grain from neighboring states. Additionally, he noted that the yield of sugarcane, cultivated on 36.80 lakh acres, has met government expectations.
