1. Unpaid Bonus to Fine Variety Paddy sparks anger 
2. Over ₹1,160 Crore pending for 4.09 Lakh Farmers

Three months after purchasing fine variety paddy from farmers, the Telangana Government is yet to release the promised bonus of Rs 500 per quintal. The delay in disbursing over Rs 1,160 crore to nearly 4.09 lakh farmers has sparked widespread resentment among cultivators across the state.

During the last Yasangi (Rabi) season, the government procured around 74 lakh metric tonnes of paddy — 51 lakh tonnes coarse and 23.19 lakh tonnes fine variety. The government had assured that the bonus would be credited within days of procurement. However, even as the Vanakalam (Kharif) harvest has begun, the bonus remains unpaid, leaving farmers frustrated and angry.

Many farmers allege that despite repeated assurances, the government has made “no move, no money.” They question why a government that could release Rs 18,000 crore towards farm loan waivers and Rs 9,000 crore under Rythu Bharosa has failed to clear Rs 1,160 crore in paddy bonus dues. “We cultivated fine paddy trusting the government’s word. Now we are burdened with debts and interest,” said one farmer from Narayanpet district, where protests have already begun.

The delay has triggered unrest in rural areas, with fears among Congress cadres that it could hurt the party in upcoming local body elections. Farmers say they were encouraged to grow fine rice based on the promise of a Rs 500 per quintal bonus — but after three months of silence, they now feel betrayed.

Government sources attribute the delay to pending financial clearance from the Finance Department. 

They admit that several government bills — including payments to contractors and welfare disbursements — remain stuck, creating a ripple of discontent even within the ruling party. In the ongoing Vanakalam season, Telangana expects an output of 148 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, of which 80 lakh tonnes will be procured by the state — evenly split between fine and coarse varieties. However, with last season’s bonus still pending, many farmers are hesitant to grow fine rice again.

As one farmer summed it up grimly: “The government said it would reward us for growing fine rice. Instead, it has punished us for trusting its word.”

The standoff over the fine paddy bonus now threatens to become a political and agrarian flashpoint — testing both the government’s credibility and its connect with Telangana’s farmers.