Officials forced to explore storage facilities in Maharashtra for jowar produce

An acute shortage of warehouse space in Adilabad has delayed jowar procurement, forcing officials to explore storage options in Maharashtra. Farmers have staged protests and are reportedly selling produce to private traders at lower prices due to delays in government procurement

Adilabad: Officials are being forced to search for storage facilities in neighbouring Maharashtra following an unprecedented shortage of space for stocking jowar produce being procured from farmers in the district.

Jowar crop was cultivated in 1.10 lakh acres in the district during the recent agricultural season. Officials expected that the district would register 20 lakh quintals of grain. The Union government announced a minimum support price of Rs 3,699 for jowar (hybrid variety) as against Rs 3,371 per quintal offered in 2025. Procurement commenced a few weeks ago.

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However, the procurement of jowar is being delayed due to a lack of warehouses, causing inconvenience to farmers. Growers are staging rasta-rokos demanding that the government procure the grain in different parts of the district. Former minister Jogu Ramanna, who staged a protest, alleged that 15,000 quintals of jowar produce kept at a market yard in Jainath mandal was drenched in unseasonal rains, resulting in losses to growers.

Officials said the existing warehouses located at market yards in the district were filled with maize and jowar produce procured in previous agricultural seasons. In view of the acute shortage of storage facilities, a team of officials comprising Markfed and district administration personnel is touring Yavatmal and Nanded districts to assess storage options on a rental basis.

Markfed officials admitted that the Centre instructed authorities to procure up to 10 quintals per acre from a farmer. They disclosed that they were unable to accommodate fresh stocks of jowar produce as old stocks were occupying the warehouses. They said efforts were on to address the challenges and avoid inconvenience to farmers.

On the other hand, farmers are left with no option but to sell their jowar produce to private traders at a loss following the delay in the procurement process. They said they were forced to sell their grain to traders for around Rs 2,400 per quintal. They urged the government to take steps to speed up the process.

Ramanna slammed the government for failing to create sufficient storage facilities for procuring jowar produce. He said the government was showing negligence in resolving the problems of farmers.