Hyderabad: The Telangana government has launched paddy procurement for the Kharif season, with harvesting expected to begin by the end of this month. Farmers will start bringing paddy to procurement centres from the first week of October. The process is scheduled to continue for four months.
Civil Supplies Commissioner D.S. Chauhan held a preparatory meeting with officials from eight departments, including agriculture, transport, and police. The department will operate separate procurement centres for fine and coarse varieties of paddy. As in the previous year, farmers selling fine variety paddy will receive a ₹500 per quintal bonus.
Procurement targets fall despite expanded cultivation and centres
The state has increased the number of procurement centres from 7,139 last year to 8,332 this season. Paddy cultivation has also expanded, rising from 60.39 lakh acres to 65.96 lakh acres. Officials believe the sustained ₹500 bonus for fine paddy has driven this increase.
However, despite a higher production estimate of 159.14 lakh tonnes for the current season, the Civil Supplies Corporation has lowered its procurement target to 74.99 lakh tonnes. Last year, the target stood at 91.28 lakh tonnes against a production of 146.28 lakh tonnes.
Rain alerts and safeguards in place for paddy procurement centres
With rains expected during the harvest period, the Civil Supplies Department has issued strict precautionary measures. District offices must circulate daily weather forecasts by 6 a.m. to all procurement centre in-charges and to farmers.
In-charges must ensure that paddy heaps are covered using tarpaulins. They are also instructed to store weighed paddy bags in enclosed, container-like spaces to prevent water damage. These steps aim to protect harvested grain from spoilage during periods of rainfall.