Karimnagar: Paddy farmers disappointed with damaged gunny bags

Farmers are losing an additional two to four kilograms of paddy during weighing due to damaged gunny bags. While inaugurating paddy procurement centers, ministers and government officials clarified that there is no shortage of gunny bags. Although the centers have received sufficient bags, most of them are old. It is a common practice to supply used bags, as providing all new ones is not feasible.

Karimnagar: Though the procurement of paddy has finally started, the supply of damaged gunny bags has become another problem for farmers. Farmers, who are eagerly waiting at PPC centers since the procurement process was started lately, felt happy with the commencement of procurement recently. However, they are disappointed a lot with the supply of damaged bags.

Farmers, who are losing about two to four kilograms of paddy while weighing, have to lose more due to damaged gunny bags. While inaugurating paddy procurement centers, ministers and government officials made it clear that there was no shortfall of gunny bags.

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Though the adequate bags have been supplied to centers, a majority of them are old ones. It is a route practice to supply old bags since it is not possible to arrange all new ones. However, damaged bags were supplied this time around.

Delay in inviting tenders for gunny bags was said to be the reason for the present situation. Moreover, tenders were also invited for only old bags. So, old bags were supplied to centers, a civil supplies department source said. Since there were holes on the bags, paddy grains were being dropped on the ground while shifting to weighing machines as well loading in vehicles.

Farmers, who are eagerly waiting at PPC centers since the procurement process was started lately, are accepting to fill their produce in damaged bags to complete the process as early as possible. Paddy straws are being stuffed in holes to prevent grains dropping from them. It was estimated that one crore gunny bags were required to procure paddy in Karimnagar. Officials have decided to supply 46 lakh old and 54 lakh new bags. So far, only 45 lakh were supplied.

A total of 1.15 crore bags are required in Jagtial. While 40 lakh new ones are kept ready, remaining 75 lakh will be old bags. In Peddapalli, out of one crore bags, only 23 lakhs including 14.60 lakh old and 8.42 lakh new bags are available. Officials are making arrangements to supply the remaining 77.88 lakh including 46 lakh new and 32 lakh old.

Out of 80 lakh required in Rajanna-Sircilla, half of the bags were supplied. A majority of them are old ones.