Telangana to shut PPCs during rabi, stop paddy procurement

Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said the Centre has categorically made it clear that it will not purchase parboiled rice from Telangana in rabi.

"What will we do with paddy stocks procured from farmers in rabi? We will suffer huge losses. We already suffered Rs 10,000 crore loss due to the procurement of paddy and maize last year. The Centre failed to even fulfill the commitment. Over 5 lakh tonnes of stocks of the last rabi are still lying in rice mills. For these reasons, we have decided to stop paddy procurement in rabi," Rao said.

Criticizing the BJP-led NDA government for adopting anti-farmers' policies, he said it is the Centre's responsibility to purchase food grains from the states because there are no storage facilities.

He said as per the directions of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the state government should procure paddy from the farmers after setting up PPCs.

"But they are not willing to buy boiled rice during Yasangi season. So that the government will not procure paddy during Yasangi season," he said.

Appealing farmers to choose alternative crops during Yasangi, the Chief Minister said those having tie-ups with traders and seed companies, millers can cultivate paddy.

He stated that Telangana has launched several pro-farmers policies including Mission Kakatiya Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bhima, and others.

"Earlier the average food grain production in 10 years ago was 10.09 lakh metric tons. After TRS assumed power, it reached 69.38 lakh metric tons. It shows how the agriculture sector grew in the state," he said.