The Congress government has failed to meet its monsoon season paddy procurement target, set by the Civil Supplies Corporation at 91.61 lakh tonnes. As of December 11, only 40.29 lakh tonnes have been procured, falling far short of the goal.
With 80% of the grain procurement season already over, officials estimate that an additional 8-10 lakh tonnes may still reach procurement centers. However, this would still leave the target unmet by a significant margin.
The Civil Supplies Minister, Uttam Kumar Reddy, had earlier projected that paddy cultivation across 66.78 lakh acres would yield 153 lakh tonnes of grain, of which the government would purchase 91 lakh tonnes. This expectation has not materialized, prompting criticism of both the government and the Civil Supplies Corporation for their inability to address procurement challenges.
Although the government announced that procurement centers would open on October 1, operations were delayed until November. Prolonged negotiations between the government and rice millers over bank guarantees and terms for fine rice disrupted the process early on.
This delay eroded farmers’ trust in government procurement. Many opted to sell paddy to private traders and millers, even at prices below the government-mandated support price. Reports suggest that over 30 lakh tonnes of grain have already been sold to private entities. Experts believe that if procurement had started on time, much of this grain could have been purchased by the government, ensuring farmers received fair compensation.
The situation is worse for fine rice. While the government initially announced plans to procure 50 lakh tonnes, only 14 lakh tonnes have been purchased so far. Allegations have surfaced that the government deliberately reduced its purchases to avoid paying the Rs. 500 bonus, further incentivizing farmers to sell to private buyers. Had the government taken proactive measures, an estimated 25-30 lakh tonnes of fine rice might have reached its centers.
This season’s failure in grain procurement has sparked criticism, with many pointing to the Revanth government’s negligence and poor planning as key factors.