Telangana Will Procure Paddy Now But Not In Yasangi

Telangana Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy today said that the government would not procure paddy from the farmers in the next Yasangi (Rabi / summer) season.

Crops would be procured this rainy season (Kharif), though, the minister said.

He suggested that the farmers take up paddy crops only if they had any understandings with seed companies, millers and marketers, or could handle sale themselves, and that otherwise they should take up alternate crops.

He expressed displeasure that the Centre was not ready to procure paddy from the state, and had asked it to export.

"Due to moisture in the Yasangi crops the Centre is not ready to procure them. It is asking us to export the produce which is not correct," he said.

The minister also urged the farmers not to panic about being able to sell the current crop grown in the rainy season (Kharif / Vanakalam).

"We are providing purchase centres in all districts and mandals. The farmers can wait and give their produce at the purchase centres. There is no need for panic. There are some problems in clearing the stocks, that is all - opposition parties should stop politicizing the issue. Agriculture activities involve with a huge number of people in multiple activities - procuring, marketing, milling, shifting and transport, and others, and the co-ordination needed can sometimes cause delays. The government is ready to set up more purchase centres if needed," he said.