Procurement of fine variety paddy: Agencies draw a blank in 19 districts

Farmers encountered difficulties at procurement centers, as strict adherence to fair average quality standards led them to sell their produce to private traders who offered Rs 300 to Rs 400 per quintal above the minimum support price. Local officials observed that most of the grade-A paddy produced in the state was purchased by millers from Chennai. Initially hesitant to buy A-grade paddy due to the obligation of providing a Rs 500 per quintal incentive to growers, state agencies are now rushing to procure as much as they can.

Hyderabad: The procurement of ‘Sannarakam’ (Grade – A) paddy by the Civil Supplies Corporation is yet to gain momentum in the State. In fact, it has fallen drastically short, with private traders, particularly millers from Chennai’s Redhills area, securing a major portion of the produce. The Civil Supplies Corporation has set a target for itself for procuring 47 lakh metric tonnes of Sannarakam paddy during the Kharif marketing season. But it has managed to procure only a little over one lakh metric tonnes.

Farmers faced practical issues at the procurement centers, with stringent adherence to fair average quality standards prompting them to sell their produce to private traders who offered Rs 300 to Rs 400 per quintal above the minimum support price. Local officials noted that Chennai millers have lifted the majority of the grade-A paddy produced in the State. The State agencies, initially reluctant to purchase A-grade paddy due to the obligation of providing an incentive bonus of Rs 500 per quintal to growers, are now in a hurry to procure as much as available.

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As of now, the Civil Supplies Corporation has procured only 1,01,368 metric tonnes of ‘Sannarakam’ paddy. There is almost zero procurement of ‘Sannarakam’ in as many as 19 districts. In some districts, the arrivals are about to start, while in others, the harvest has already been bought by Chennai traders.

Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts accounted for the highest procurement of the grade A paddy with 76,504 metric tonnes and 17,643 metric tonnes respectively. In Karimnagar, 3,157 metric tonnes were procured, and 1,017 metric tonnes in other regions.

The government has also begun bonus payments for ‘Sannarakam’ farmers. Officials informed that Rs 28 crore has been paid in a few districts, with payments starting on Monday.