Early monsoon: CM Revanth reviews situation, assures farmers to procure entire paddy

Hyderabad: With the southwest monsoon arriving 15 days ahead of schedule and disrupting agricultural activities across Telangana, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy held an emergency video conference with ministers and district collectors to assess the situation and chart out a coordinated response.

The meeting focused on ensuring smooth paddy procurement, preparing for the upcoming Kharif season, expediting housing and land reform initiatives, and addressing health and misinformation concerns triggered by the early rains.

Record paddy procurement amid early monsoon

The chief minister said that the monsoon had arrived 15 days ahead of schedule—a rare development that has led to disruptions in paddy procurement across several districts. Assuring farmers that the government would procure every grain brought to market, CM Revanth stated that 90 percent of procurement is already complete.

“Telangana has achieved a record procurement of 64.5 lakh metric tonnes this Yasangi season, compared to 42 lakh tonnes last year. The government has also ensured timely payments totaling Rs 12,184 crore, disbursed within 48 hours of procurement, making it the highest-ever payout to farmers in the state’s history,” Revanth Reddy said.

Telangana leads the nation in paddy production

Telangana has topped the country in paddy yield this year, harvesting 2.75 crore tonnes. The CM praised the efforts of farmers, as well as officials from the Agriculture and Civil Supplies Departments, for this milestone. However, he acknowledged that procurement issues remain in 12 districts, mainly due to communication gaps, and instructed collectors to intervene directly at the field level.

Tackling misinformation and ensuring transparency

The CM condemned politically driven misinformation campaigns, citing a recent case where a farmer’s health-related death was falsely attributed to procurement delays. He emphasized transparency and urged collectors to regularly update procurement data. Officials were also instructed to take legal action against those intentionally spreading false narratives.

Kharif season readiness: Seeds, fertilizers, and vigilance

With rainfall already 29 percent above normal, CM Revanth called for heightened vigilance in preparing for the Kharif season. He directed agriculture officials to ensure buffer stocks of seeds and fertilizers, appoint special monitoring officers, and conduct daily reviews. Legal action under the PD Act will be taken against those involved in the black marketing of agri inputs.

Land Reforms: Expansion of Bhu Bharati Project

The chief minister described the former Dharani system as a “nightmare” and positioned the Bhu Bharati land records project as a more transparent, farmer-friendly alternative. Already in place in select mandals, the system will be expanded statewide. Phase-3 Revenue Conferences will be conducted from June 3 to 20, and district in-charge ministers were asked to finalize action plans.

Indiramma Housing Scheme: Finalizing beneficiaries and ensuring progress

Highlighting the Indiramma Housing Scheme as a flagship program, the CM instructed collectors to finalize beneficiary lists by May-end. He proposed forming mandal-level Price Control Committees to monitor labor and construction costs. Free sand coupons will be issued, loans facilitated for building units, and model houses showcased to encourage innovation in construction.

District visits, formation day celebrations, and follow-up reviews

Ministers were directed to tour their respective districts on May 29–30 to review progress on key initiatives. Collectors must submit detailed district-wise reports by June 1, ahead of a special review meeting at the Secretariat. The CM also called for grand celebrations on June 2 to mark Telangana Formation Day across all districts.

Health Alert: Focus on seasonal diseases and COVID-19 vigilance

Amid the early monsoon, the CM warned of possible outbreaks of seasonal diseases and fevers, especially in tribal and forest areas. With COVID-19 cases rising in neighboring states, he directed district collectors and the Health Department to adopt preventive measures and stay on high alert.