Telangana government has purchased 8 lakh tonnes of paddy from approximately 76,500 farmers so far this rabi season. "We opened 5,200 procurement centres in 30 districts and spent 1,483 crore on 7.60 lakh tonnes of procurement," the Civil Supplies Department official said.
In the two seasons last year, the State Government purchased 1.41 crore tonnes of paddy worth 26,000 crore. 92.34 lakh tonnes were obtained during the rabi season. 7 lakh tonnes of the 7.60 lakh tonnes of paddy procured so far have been transferred to various mills for processing.
Unlike the previous season, when the State Government supplied parboiled rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the State Government will supply raw rice in the Kharif season after the Centre refused to accept parboiled rice.
The millers, on the other hand, have no idea how much compensation the state government will pay for milling the extremely brittle grain. Rabi paddy becomes brittle due to excessive heat in March and April, yielding less rice. The millers are demanding Rs 300 for a quintal of paddy.
The Chief Secretary, Somesh Kumar, has been appointed by the State Government to discuss the financial implications of the decision to supply raw rice (instead of parboiled rice).
"We're waiting for the compensation component to be announced," a miller from Suryapet has said.
Meanwhile, farmers' unions have demanded that the State Government compensate them for crop losses caused by untimely rains last week.
"On May 4, heavy rains hit several parts of the state." Farmers suffered significant losses because harvested produce parked in fields and shifted to market yards was completely destroyed," said S Malla Reddy, Vice-President of All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).
"Due to the untimely rains, paddy, mango, chilli, and maize farmers suffered greatly." "The government has yet to make a statement on relief," he said.
The Telangana Rythu Sangham chastised the State Government for failing to assist farmers who abandoned paddy in favour of alternative crops after receiving an advisory.
"The paddy area is reduced by 20 lakh acres during the season as a result of the State Government's advice to avoid paddy and instead plant alternative crops during the Rabi season," T Sagar, Secretary of Telangana Rythu Sangham, said. Farmers' unions claim that the procurement process started late and is moving slowly.
