Nalgonda farmers allege heavy deductions at paddy procurement centres

Farmers in Nalgonda district have alleged large-scale deductions and irregularities during paddy procurement, causing financial losses. They accused rice mills of manipulating weighbridges and prioritising paddy stocks arriving from Andhra Pradesh, while local farmers continue to face delays and additional charges.

NALGONDA: Amid mounting distress over delays in paddy procurement, farmers in Nalgonda district are now alleging abnormal deductions at procurement centres and rice mills, leading to heavy financial losses.

Farmers say they are already incurring losses due to deductions made at procurement centres in the name of chaff and moisture. Adding to their difficulties, several rice mills are allegedly reducing sizeable quantities from farmers’ stocks through computerised weighbridges.

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Telangana Farmers Federation president Namireddy Yadagiri Reddy alleged that rice mill managements were deducting 35 kg to 40 kg per tractor load, which usually carries around 54 to 55 quintals of paddy.

He said the issue was widespread in several parts of the district, particularly in Molkapatnam, Vemulapally and other mandals in the Miryalguda region. According to him, farmers were already facing deductions of nearly five kilograms per bag at IKP centres before the stocks reached the mills.

Farmers also complained about additional charges being collected during procurement. They alleged that Hamali charges Rs 100 per load, while another Rs 100 was being collected as clerks’ or agents’ charges.

Despite repeated complaints to officials, farmers said little action had been taken against erring rice mills. They alleged that inspections conducted by authorities were limited to a few days and failed to bring any lasting change.

Last week, Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Roads & Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy visited a few procurement centres in the erstwhile Nalgonda district and reviewed the procurement process. However, farmers said hardships and losses continued unabated.

Another issue troubling the farming community is the arrival of paddy stocks from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh at local rice mills.

Farmers alleged that every rice mill in Miryalguda receives at least two to three truckloads of paddy from Andhra Pradesh daily. They claimed that these stocks were being given priority, while local farmers were forced to wait for several hours for procurement.