All precautions to be taken for expeditious purchase of paddy, maize and cotton
Hyderabad : Telangana has achieved a new milestone in paddy procurement, with 8.54 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) purchased so far during the Kharif 2025–26 season – more than twice the 3.94 LMT recorded at the same time last year.
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, on Monday reviewed the progress with district collectors and civil supplies officials through a video conference held by Chief Secretary S. Ramakrishna Rao from the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Secretariat. The ministers directed the officials to stay vigilant in view of any adverse weather condition and to counter misinformation about procurement.
The review was attended by Civil Supplies Commissioner Stephen Ravindra and other senior officials. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana had set an unprecedented record in both paddy production and procurement.
Also Read-
“For the first time in India, a state government has decided to purchase 80 lakh tonnes of paddy in a single Kharif season. This achievement reflects the strength of Telangana’s agricultural ecosystem and the commitment of our government to farmers,” he said.
He informed that 3.95 LMT of fine variety (sannalu) and 4.59 LMT of common variety (doddupaddy) had been procured so far. The number of farmers selling to government centres has nearly doubled – from 55,493 last year to 1,21,960 this year.
The total MSP value of paddy procured stands at Rs 2,041.44 crore, compared with Rs 915.05 crore a year ago. Of this, Rs 832.90 crore has already been paid to farmers, while the remaining Rs 1,208.54 crore will be cleared through the Online Procurement Management System (OPMS) within 48 hours of registration.
The bonus value for fine paddy varieties rose sharply from Rs 43.02 crore last year to Rs 197.73 crore this year, of which Rs 35.72 crore has been disbursed.
Uttam Kumar Reddy instructed officials to ensure prompt payments, adequate storage and transportation, and continuous field supervision by collectors. “Procurement is a sensitive process that must run smoothly from purchase to payment. Every grain must be safeguarded, and every farmer must be paid on time,” he said.
The Minister directed all collectors to remain in high alert mode to handle any adverse weather condition and take preventive steps to protect all crops – paddy, maize, and cotton – from damage.
He said farmers had only recently recovered from the Monda cyclone, and the new system demanded preparedness.“Officials must act with speed and caution. No farmer should face losses due to rain or procedural delay,” he emphasised.
He instructed all districts to accelerate procurement and move stocks quickly to rice mills. He also directed officials to provide tarpaulins at all procurement centres to protect stored grain and to share daily weather bulletins with farmers so they could safeguard their harvested paddy.
In case of rain, drenched paddy should be shifted immediately to boiled rice mills, with proposals sent for allocation under the boiled rice quota. Further, he asked collectors to ensure adequate godown space and engage local labour to prevent any disruption in the procurement process.
Uttam Kumar Reddy cautioned against false narratives being circulated about procurement progress. He asked collectors to inspect centres regularly, verify facts, and communicate accurate information to the public.
“This government stands by farmers. No amount of misinformation can weaken our transparency or commitment,” he said.
Parallel to the paddy review, Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao held a detailed discussion with district collectors on the procurement of cotton, maize, and soybean, calling November the most crucial month for crop collection.
Collectors reported that maize farmers were satisfied with the government’s decision to increase the purchase limit from 18.5 quintals per acre to 25 quintals, helping them recover from weather-related losses.
On cotton, several collectors highlighted the difficulties caused by the Cotton Corporation of India’s (CCI) new L1 and L2 purchase restrictions, which limit procurement to seven quintals per acre.
Responding to this, Tummala Nageswara Rao said the Telangana Government would press the Centre to raise the limit to 12 quintals per acre to ensure fair purchases at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
He added that the state had also requested the Central Government to permit procurement of soybean discoloured by rains, so that affected farmers are not denied returns.
Nageswara Rao said the Monda cyclone had caused crop losses in about 1.10 lakh acres, including paddy, maize, and cotton. The Agriculture Department’s report on crop damage has been submitted to the Central Government, and the state has sought relaxation of moisture content norms to facilitate smooth procurement under the prevailing weather conditions.
“We will continue discussions with the Centre. Our focus is to ensure that weather-affected produce is accepted without penalising farmers,” he said.
Concluding the review, both ministers described November as the key month for procurement operations across Telangana.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that with 55% of total paddy procurement expected in the next four weeks, all departments must work in close coordination to achieve the state’s target of 80 LMT.
“Telangana has achieved a record in both production and procurement,” he said. “Now the task is to sustain this pace through efficient logistics, timely payments, and complete protection of farmers’ interests.”
He reaffirmed: “We are a farmers’ government. Every grain purchased, every rupee paid, and every precaution taken must reflect that commitment.”
