Over 50 lakh MT of paddy worth Rs 9,886 cr procured in Telangana

Despite the challenges like Corona pandemic, lockdown and unseasonal rains, procurement was expedited across the State during the last 21 days

Hyderabad: Civil Supplies Corporation Limited Chairman M. Srinivas Reddy said despite Corona pandemic, lockdown and unseasonal rains, over 50 lakh metric tonnes paddy procurement was completed with a cost of over Rs.9,800 crore in this Yasangi season.

As per the instructions of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao procurement was being expedited across the State, he said.

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“Every day during lockdown, over 2 lakh metric tonnes is being procured” said Srinivas Reddy while addressing media persons here on Saturday.

He briefed the media persons on how the daily procurement and extension of minimum support price was being monitored through the dashboard.

Despite the challenges like Corona pandemic, lockdown and unseasonal rains, procurement was expedited across the State during the last 21 days, he said.

During the last 21 days in this month, 40.62 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procurement. Lockdown came into force since May 12 and since then, 21.22 lakh metric tonnes of grains were procured, he informed.

“No other State in the country is procuring grains on such a largescale” said Srinivas Reddy appealing to officials to continue the procurement at the current pace.

As per the Agriculture department estimates, 1.30 crore metric tonnes of harvest is expected in the Yasangi season. Of these, apart from local requirements and utility for seeds, the balance stocks will be procured by the Civil Supplies Corporation, he explained.

The Corporation has set a target of procuring 80 lakh metric tonnes and is prepared to procure more stocks, if required, he said.

Till date, 52.41 metric tonnes of grains were procured through 6892 procurement centres from 7.45 lakh farmers. The total worth of procurement is Rs.9886 crore, he said adding that of these, already 48.86 lakh metric tonnes of grains were shifted to Rice mills.

After procurement of grains is completed, the procurement centres will be closed. Accordingly, till date, 308 centres have been shut in seven districts, Srinivas Reddy said.

So far, the highest procurement of 6.92 lakh metric tonnes was done in Nizamabad district, followed by 5.92 lakh metric tonnes in Nalgonda, 4.50 lakh in Suryapet, 3.33 lakh in Jagityal, 3.24 lakh in Kamareddy, 3.33 lakh in Karimnagar, 2.48 lakh in Khammam, 2.51 lakh in Peddapalli, 2.35 lakh in Yadadri and 2.35 lakh in Siddipet districts.

The Chief Minister as a means to ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience in selling their Farm produce, had directed to set up procurement centres in all districts during Yasangi last year, Vanakalam and Yasangi this year, he informed.

“Except for Telangana, no other State was procuring grains produced in their limits on a such largescale” said Srinivas Reddy.

Despite financial burden, according top priority to farmers welfare, the Chief Minister directed procurement on such a largescale. Special contractors were hired through tenders for transportation of grains from procurement centres to Rice mills, he said.

At few places, the contractors could not arrange required number of vehicles. To tide over the situation and to ensure quick transportation, different vehicles were hired, he informed.

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