Only Telangana procuring paddy despite Covid: Niranjan Reddy

Of the total harvest in the country, nearly 50 per cent is being contributed by Telangana, Agriculture Minister Niranjan Reddy said

Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy said amidst Corona pandemic, Telangana was the only State, which was continuing paddy procurement in the country, while other States had suspended procurement.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had the decision to procure paddy for the benefit of farmers. Of the total harvest in the country, nearly 50 per cent is being contributed by Telangana, he said during a teleconference to monitor paddy procurement in Wanaparthy district, here on Saturday.

The Minister gave specific instructions to the millers that they have to follow the guidelines. “If any Miller is found cutting immature grains from already weighed stocks, then the license of the miller will be canceled,” he warned.

The Minister wanted farmers and officials to make good use of the Rythu Vedikas and godowns for storing the grains. There should not be any delay in transportation, after the paddy is weighed and transactions are completed, he said. Contractors, who have been assigned the task of transporting the grains, should deploy sufficient vehicles, failing which they will be held responsible for delay in transportation, the Minister said.

Immediate transportation of grains with available vehicles should be the mandate. The bills for transportation should be cleared by the agencies immediately, he said. “Since government is procuring the paddy despite the pandemic,  farmers should also cooperate with the officials,” said Niranjan Reddy adding that elected public representatives should monitor the proceedings and address issues locally, if any.

Farmers put in lot of efforts for cultivation and all measures should be taken to ensure they are not subjected to any inconvenience during procurement, he said and directed officials not to be apathetic towards millers, he said.

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