Telangana mulls incentives to boost rice exports, says Uttam Kumar Reddy

Telangana is considering a policy to incentivise rice exports and expand domestic and global markets, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. The proposed move aims to reduce dependence on central procurement agencies while creating better opportunities for farmers and rice millers

Hyderabad: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the Telangana government was considering a policy to incentivise rice exports to expand global and inter-state markets. The move is aimed at reducing the State’s dependence on central procurement agencies while creating better market opportunities for farmers and rice millers through value addition and direct exports.

Speaking at the launch of KCP Nutri’s Multi-Vitamin Rice range in Hyderabad on Monday, the Minister said Telangana had emerged as a rice-surplus State, with rice production crossing 3 crore tonnes, while combined procurement during the Kharif and Rabi seasons exceeded 1.52 crore tonnes against the State’s annual consumption of about 36 lakh tonnes.

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He said the Food Corporation of India procures rice primarily for farmers and not for exports, making it necessary for Telangana to explore new domestic and international markets. He assured all support to millers and businesses adhering to prescribed quality standards and said the government would facilitate approvals for genuine exporters.

Pointing to the State’s procurement performance, Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana procured 81 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the recently concluded Rabi season and transferred Rs 19,303 crore directly into farmers’ bank accounts. He urged the rice industry to focus on innovation and value addition, stating that fortified and nutrition-rich rice products would help enhance competitiveness in domestic and overseas markets while addressing evolving consumer preferences.