The Central government that refused to buy paddy from Telangana state is now eagerly waiting for the procurement from the state. The paddy cultivation in other states came down sharply and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has lifted all the stocks in godowns of Telangana.
During the current year, the paddy stocks were 10 lakh tonnes in Telangana godowns which came down to just two lakh tonnes. The FCI is supplying the paddy to other states. In the past, the same FCI told Telangana government that it cannot procure any more paddy stating that there was no space in godowns, no availability of rail rakes, there was no quality in paddy from Telangana, and so on.
Now, the same FCI is eagerly waiting for the paddy procurement from Telangana. Telangana is the only state where paddy production during the last rainy season and the present summer season is expected to be very high.
The central government promised to supply free rice to people till December month but it has no stocks anywhere in the country right now. The paddy in godowns of Telangana are emptied as paddy was shifted to other states to keep its free rice scheme going.
Now, the central government is planning to draft more rail rakes to godowns that are nearer to railway stations in Telangana to stock and shift the paddy as and when procured.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao