Farmers dry paddy stocks in crematorium in CM’s constituency
Farmers in Telangana’s Kodangal constituency dried paddy in a crematorium due to a lack of drying platforms and procurement delays. Limited space and suspension of procurement forced them to take extreme steps, highlighting persistent infrastructural challenges in agricultural operations
NARAYANPET: Reflecting the hardships faced by the farming community in the State, a few farmers in Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s Kodangal constituency dried their paddy stocks in a crematorium.
Before taking their produce for procurement, farmers must ensure there is no moisture content in the stocks. Accordingly, most farmers dry their produce on roadsides and at other open places. Due to a dearth of drying platforms, a few farmers resorted to drying their paddy in a crematorium in the first ward of Kosgi Municipality. Though geographically Kosgi falls within Narayanpet district limits, it is part of the Chief Minister’s Kodangal constituency.
The farmers have been drying their stocks in the crematorium since Sunday. Officials had suspended procurement, citing a lack of hamalis for loading stocks and other reasons. The procurement centre established at the Government College ground is about one km away from the crematorium. With other farmers already occupying the limited available space for drying, these farmers were left with no choice but to use the crematorium premises. Procurement commenced on Monday, but farmers had to wait for their turn.
Incidentally, the crematorium was constructed during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government’s tenure and was opened to the public in 2021. In addition to basic amenities, it has a garden and avenue plantation. However, locals allege that the crematorium lacks proper maintenance and sanitation.