Delay in procurement of maize, paddy irks farmers in Khammam, Kothagudem
Farmers in Khammam staged a protest over delays in maize procurement, alleging glitches in the online system and poor arrangements at procurement centres. Farmers in Kothagudem and Chunchupalli also complained about losses and delays linked to fair average quality standards
Khammam: Farmers staged a flash protest at the Mudigonda mandal headquarters in the district on Wednesday over the delay in procurement of maize.
Farmers expressed their anguish, stating that they were forced to stay day and night outside the PACS offices to sell their produce. They demanded the abolition of the online procurement system and the transportation of maize bags that had already been weighed at the purchasing centres.
It was said that for the past three days, the farmers had been staying at the procurement centre in Mudigonda as the online procurement system had malfunctioned, and the same continued on Wednesday.
This enraged the farmers, who staged a sit-in protest on the Khammam-Kodad main road. Farmers lamented that after enduring immense hardships throughout the season to cultivate their crops, they were now facing even greater struggles just to sell them.
The farmers pointed out that while the government claims to have made arrangements to ensure a hassle-free procurement process, the reality on the ground was starkly different. They warned that if the government failed to respond and resolve the issues immediately, they would intensify their agitation.
In Kothagudem, Telangana Rythu Sangham district general secretary Muthyala Viswanatham complained that the staff at the paddy procurement centre was deducting up to five kilograms of paddy towards wastage, causing financial loss to farmers.
He urged agriculture officials to lift the strict mandate requiring the purchase of only those paddy stocks that meet fair average quality (FAQ) standards and to procure paddy with varying moisture levels, as was the practice in the past.
Farmers in Penagadapa village of Chunchupalli mandal alleged that paddy procurement was severely delayed due to the implementation of the FAQ policy. The staff was able to inspect and procure paddy from only four farmers per day. As a result, the remaining farmers were compelled to wait for days at the procurement centres, they said.
