Farmers hit as only 40 percent paddy procured in Karimnagar

BRS leader Sunke Ravishankar criticised the Congress-led state government in Karimnagar for delaying paddy procurement, alleging shortages of gunny bags, labour, and urea, while farmers have been waiting for over 45 days amidst looming rains.

Karimnagar: BRS leader and former MLA Sunke Ravishankar found fault with the state government for creating troubles for farmers by delaying paddy procurement.

So far, only 40 percent of paddy was purchased in the Karimnagar district and the remaining 60 percent was still lying at procurement centers.

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Ravishankar gave a representation to the Collector Chitra Mishra at the Collectorate office here on Friday, requesting her to speed up the procurement process.

Speaking on the occasion, the BRS leader alleged that the Congress government, which claims to be farmer friendly, was cheating the farming community everywhere.

About 10 kg of excess paddy has been weighed on the purchase of every quintal on the pretext of shriveled grains. Grade-A quality paddy has also been treated as Grade-B. There is a shortage of gunny bags and hamalis at procurement centers. Unfortunately, lorry owners were collecting Rs 2 per each paddy bag to transport them.

In the wake of rains likely to hit the state by the end of this month, he wanted the government to speed up the procurement process and provide relief to farmers who are waiting at purchasing centers for the past 45 days.

It was ridiculous on the part of Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao to make a statement that no buffer stock of Urea was available in the state. Both state and central governments were cheating the farmers.

Stating that about 2 lakh metric tonnes of urea was required, he wanted the government to keep the required urea since the farmers have already started raising paddy seedlings.