AP records 'highest-ever' paddy procurement

Paddy worth Rs 31,000 crore was procured, with 95 per cent of payments credited to the bank accounts of over 1.1 million farmers within 24 hours

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar on Thursday said the state government's reforms in paddy procurement over the past two years have enabled Andhra Pradesh to achieve its highest-ever procurement while ensuring faster payments and greater transparency.

Addressing a review meeting, the Minister said the Civil Supplies Corporation has streamlined procurement in coordination with farmers and rice millers. He noted that the NDA coalition government procured 7.4 million tonnes of paddy in its second year, compared to 4.2 million tonnes during the previous YSRCP government's tenure from 2019 to 2024.

Manohar said paddy worth Rs 31,000 crore was procured, with 95 per cent of payments credited to the bank accounts of over 1.1 million farmers within 24 hours. He added that quality BPT rice is being supplied under the mid-day meal scheme and in government welfare hostels.

The Minister said the Centre has adopted Andhra Pradesh's 10 per cent broken rice policy for implementation across the country. To improve transparency, every paddy bag is now affixed with a QR code, while a Track and Trace system enables end-to-end monitoring from farmers to Fair Price Shops. Farmers can now sell paddy through WhatsApp, while reforms have also been introduced in the management of gunny bags, warehouses, transportation and moisture testing.

Addressing logistical issues, Manohar said gunny bags will be made available at Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs) from the coming Kharif season. Transport charges will be credited directly to farmers' bank accounts within 48 hours, and an RFID-based system will monitor the movement of transport vehicles.

He added that the government is standardising moisture meters across the state by procuring the same make and model, with 90 per cent of installations already completed. Referring to the upcoming Kharif season, the Minister said preliminary estimates indicate that paddy production could decline by around 15 per cent due to the impact of El Niño. He said the government would create awareness among farmers in advance and provide the necessary guidance to minimise the impact on cultivation.