Congress forcing farmers to sell paddy to traders far below MSP: Harish

Former minister T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of reducing paddy procurement targets and delaying payments to farmers, forcing distress sales. He alleged underweighing at centres, demanded immediate release of pending dues and warned of protests if issues remain unresolved

Siddipet: Responding to the sudden change in paddy procurement target from 90 lakh metric tonnes to 70 lakh metric tonnes by Congress government, former Minister T Harish Rao lashed out at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for making farmers struggle at paddy procurement centres.

Speaking to reporters after interacting with farmers at Ensanpally procurement centre on Monday, Harish Rao said that Telangana actually expected 1.40 crore metric tonnes of paddy harvest during Yasangi season. Though the Civil Supplies Department had initially targeted procurement of 90 lakh metric tonnes, it was reduced to 70 lakh metric tonnes, forcing farmers to resort to distress sales far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

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He recalled how BRS leaders had staged a protest in New Delhi when the Centre refused to purchase the paddy from Telangana during BRS rule.

Even when the Centre stepped back, Rao said former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao took the entire responsibility on his shoulders. Stating that he was receiving multiple calls from farmers every day over the delay in procurement, the former Minister said that the staff at the centres were resorting to the dreaded practise of underweighing, causing a loss of 150 kgs to every acre of harvest to farmers. Due to the inordinate delay, he said that some 10 to 12 farmers died at the centres following various issues while many fell sick due to heat.

Since the State was also witnessing thunderstorms, Rao said that the farmers were finding it difficult to protect their crops.

Responding to Revanth’s statement on fast-tracking the procurement, he said that even snails would feel ashamed after seeing the work at ground level. He also reminded how Revanth failed to keep his promise of releasing Rythu Bharosa within 45 days after inaugurating the oil palm factory in Siddipet on March 22.

The former Minister said that the Congress government could not keep its promise even 63 days after the announcement. He said that the Ensanpally procurement centre had received just six lorries so far.

Accusing Revanth of shuttling between New Delhi and Hyderabad to appease the Congress high command for 60 times, Rao demanded him to stop his trips to Delhi and put efforts to increase the number of loads carried out from procurement centres. When a woman farmer Nagalakshmi said that she did not receive the amount even three months after selling maize, he demanded Revanth to release maize, sunflower, jowar and paddy amounts with immediate effect. Failing that, he warned that the BRS would lay siege to Siddipet Collectorate with thousands of farmers.