Maize farmers hit hard by storage crisis in Khammam, Kothagudem

Maize farmers in Khammam and Kothagudem districts are facing severe challenges due to delays in procurement and lack of storage facilities. With over 22,000 metric tonnes already procured and thousands more awaiting collection, warehouses in Khammam, Nalgonda, Miryalaguda, and Jaggaiahpet have reached full capacity.

Khammam: Maize farmers who have been already troubled due to delay in the procurement process in erstwhile Khammam district are now affected by lack of storage facilities.

In Kothagudem district large quantities of maize procured by Markfed were yet to be transported to warehouses forcing the farmers to stay at procurement centres as it was the responsibility of the farmers to guard the produce until it is transported to warehouses.

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Farmers are complaining that unseasonal rains accompanied by high-speed winds are posing a challenge to them. The procured produce was getting damaged as tarpaulin sheets covering the produce were blown away due to the winds.

According to officials about 22, 000 metric tonnes of maize were procured by Markfed in the district and around 7000 metric tonnes of maize was yet to be procured. Due to lack of storage space at market committee warehouses in Kothagudem, the produce was being shifted to Khammam and Nalgonda districts.

According to officials, storage space at the warehouses of the civil supplies department and Markfed in Khammam district has reached its limit; warehouses at Miryalaguda and Jaggaiahpet were allotted, but they also reached their full capacity.

Hence, the officials are stocking procured maize at the newly built sheds in Khammam market, where over one lakh bags of maize was stocked at present. In addition to that maize bags are also being stocked at sheds at Maddulapalli market yard in Khammam rural mandal.

Similarly in Kothagudem, permission has been given to temporarily stock the produce at Yellandu and Kothagudem market yard sheds until it is transported to warehouses.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Telangana Rythu Sangham district president Bonthu Rambabu noted that the problem is a result of the State government’s failure to come up with a prior plan in allotting warehouses and transport contracts.

In Khammam, about 30 to 40 percent of maize was yet to be shifted to warehouses or market yard sheds from procurement centres. The officials should speed up the process so as to protect maize from getting damaged by unseasonal rains, he added.