Bonus delay hampers paddy procurement in erstwhile Adilabad

Paddy procurement in Adilabad region during the Vanakalam season has slowed sharply, with less than half the target achieved. Officials cite the State government’s delay in releasing the promised Rs 500 per quintal bonus for fine‑variety rice as a key reason.

Adilabad: Procurement of paddy cultivated during the Vanakalam season is being dragged on, apparently due to the State government’s delay in paying the promised bonus of Rs 500 per quintal for fine-variety rice.

Officials said erstwhile Adilabad, comprising Adilabad, Mancherial, Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Nirmal districts, recorded procurement of 2.09 lakh metric tonnes of paddy against a target of 4.52 lakh metric tonnes so far, reflecting less than 50 per cent achievement. Mancherial district registered procurement of 89,251 metric tonnes against a target of 2.32 lakh metric tonnes, amounting to 38 per cent.

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Nirmal district recorded procurement of 1.15 lakh metric tonnes against a target of 1.69 lakh metric tonnes. Kumram Bheem Asifabad district accounted for 2,990 metric tonnes against a target of 48,000 metric tonnes, while Adilabad district saw procurement of 2,133 quintals out of a target of 2,700 quintals.

Sources said the inordinate delay in releasing the bonus for fine variety paddy had deterred farmers from selling their produce to the government. For instance, 6,814 farmers were still waiting for payment of bonus worth Rs 19.17 crore in erstwhile Adilabad district alone. Realising that they might not get the bonus, farmers were forced to depend on private traders, incurring losses after cultivating the crop.

Farmer associations expressed dissatisfaction over what they called the government’s apathy in reaching procurement targets. They alleged negligence in purchasing the grains, causing losses to growers. The government had promised to buy all the produce by offering a bonus at the time of the polls, but it failed to realise the promise after assuming power, they said.

Meanwhile, officials attributed the sluggish progress to fewer rice mills being assigned from the four districts. Paddy was allocated to rice mills located outside erstwhile Adilabad district, affecting the pace of procurement. A major portion of local mills that had helped the government in buying the grains earlier were not permitted this time, an official said.