Farmers stage protests, demand officials to expedite paddy purchase in Telangana’s Khammam

Complain that large quantities of paddy are deducted in the pretext of wastage while weighing the produce at procurement centres

Khammam: Paddy farmers in Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao’s own district in Khammam were at the receiving end and were forced to take to the streets due to negligence of officials as well as exploitation of millers.

On Monday, a large group of farmers and farmers’ association leaders staged a protest on Khammam-Kothagudem main road at Kallur demanding the officials to immediately purchase paddy brought to procurement centres.

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The farmers of Pullaiah Banjar in Kallur mandal complained that large quantities of paddy were deducted in the pretext of wastage (tarugu) while weighing the produce at procurement centres. They shouted slogans demanding action against the IKP officials.

Vehicles were stopped on both sides of the road as farmers protested. The local police intervened and convinced the farmers to take their grievance to the Kallur revenue divisional officer.

In a similar protest on Khammam-Kothagudem road farmers staged a dharna at Sujatha Nagar mandal headquarters under the aegis of CPI (M) Rythu Sangham. They demanded the government immediately start purchasing paddy at all the paddy purchase centres.

Telangana Rythu Sangam district secretary Bonthu Rambabu complained even as there were three ministers in Khammam district, the grievances of the paddy farmers were not being addressed. He wanted paddy procurement expedited for the benefit of farmers.

For the past twenty days it has become a routine for farmers to wait for the officials to purchase paddy at the procurement centres after piling up the produce. Due to a short supply of gunny bags, paddy was not being weighed in time, he said.

On the other hand, untimely rains have been troubling farmers. Millers exploiting the situation were removing five to ten kilograms of paddy per quintal towards wastage causing loss to farmers. The district ministers should take measures to expedite paddy purchases, Rambabu demanded.