The Congress government’s paddy procurement this season has fallen drastically short compared to last year’s record. During the same period last monsoon season, the BRS government successfully purchased around 15 lakh tonnes of grain directly from farmers.
In stark contrast, under the Congress government, only 18,000 tonnes have been procured so far. While procurement centers are set up across many areas, farmers report a lack of clear directives for actual buying, resulting in grain piling up at the centers. Farmers are voicing their frustration as they scramble to find buyers for their produce.
Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy disclosed these figures, highlighting a dramatic reduction in procurement volume and the number of farmers being assisted. While last year, over 2.5 lakh farmers sold their produce to the government, only 2,546 farmers have been able to do so under the current Congress rule.
This amounts to just 1.2% of the grain purchased by the BRS government during the same period. Despite numerous statements and plans, no substantial agreements have been made with grain millers, further stalling the procurement process. Millers have expressed reluctance to proceed without having certain demands met, such as the reduction of output requirements for fine rice and changes to bank guarantee policies. With the lack of agreements in place, millers are unwilling to take on the unloading of grain, halting activity at purchase centers statewide.
The government’s delay in addressing these issues has left officials inactive, compounding the problems faced by farmers at procurement centers. The government announced that grain purchases would begin from October 1, but over a month in, only 18,000 tonnes have been procured.
The Civil Supplies Department has set a target of 1.5 crore tonnes this season, aiming for at least 80 lakh tonnes. At the current pace, however, reaching this target appears highly unlikely, raising concerns over how long it would take to reach 80 lakh tonnes.
In an attempt to improve distribution in ration shops, the government announced a target of procuring 50 lakh tonnes of fine rice by January, with a bonus of Rs. 500 per quintal. However, private traders have already purchased a large portion of the available fine rice, reportedly acquiring around 30 lakh tonnes, especially from high-production areas like the combined Nalgonda and Nizamabad districts. This has raised doubts about the government’s ability to meet its goal of 36 lakh tonnes needed for ration distribution.
With only an estimated 10-15 lakh tonnes of fine rice likely to be available to the government, serious questions remain about its ability to fulfill its distribution commitments.