Komatireddy seeks mega grain godown, citrus cold storage for Nalgonda

LatestPoliticsTelangana
By HNH Web Desk 31
grain godown citrus cold storage

Hyderabad: Telangana Minister for Roads & Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has urged the Centre to approve a mega grain godown and a dedicated citrus cold storage facility in Nalgonda district. The request was made on Thursday during the inauguration of the FCI divisional office and buffer storage complex in the town.

Minister calls for urgent agri-infra boost in Nalgonda

Addressing Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi at the event, Komatireddy said modern storage systems are critical to protect farmers’ produce from weather-related damage. Despite heavy crop losses from recent cyclonic rains, Nalgonda produced 8.54 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the Yasangi season, making a significant contribution to FCI procurement.

He highlighted Telangana’s position as the country’s top paddy producer last year with 148 lakh metric tonnes, of which Nalgonda contributed substantially. However, the absence of adequate godown capacity has caused frequent procurement delays and quality issues.

The Minister proposed a one lakh MT state-of-the-art storage complex with steel silos, grain dryers, and automated handling systems. He said the required land is already available in Tipparti mandal, just 13 km from Nalgonda town. Additionally, he called for flexible procurement policies allowing millers to supply both raw and parboiled rice, noting the district’s strong milling base.

Push for ODOP status and post-harvest protection for citrus farmers

Komatireddy also sought national recognition for Nalgonda’s sweet oranges under the Centre’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. The district produces nearly 4.5 lakh tonnes of citrus annually. According to him, ODOP status would enhance branding and boost farmers’ earnings through better market access.

To reduce post-harvest losses, he requested a 2,500 MT citrus cold storage facility to support sweet orange growers. Such infrastructure, he said, would secure produce during peak harvest and improve income stability for farmers.

Nalgonda poised to become major agro hub

The Minister expressed optimism that these facilities would help transform Nalgonda into a comprehensive agro produce hub. This, he said, would strengthen both farmer incomes and the national food supply chain.

 

You might also like More from author