Uttam launches ten-day mega paddy procurement blitz

1. All out efforts on to outwit challenges like untimely rains, heat wave and labour crisis
2. Paddy Arrivals expected up to 75 LMT, every grain will be procured
3. 8.5 lakh metric tonnes that has already arrived to be purchased in 72 hrs

metro india news  I hyderabad

Telangana has embarked on an expansive paddy procurement operations, with Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy declaring a full-scale “War like ten-day special operation” to ensure that every grain arrived in market yards is purchased without delay.

At a high-level video conference attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Thummala Nageswara Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar, Jupally Krishna Rao and Adluri Lakshman, Government Chief Whip Adi Srinivas, MP ,Vem Narender Reddy and Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, Civil Supplies Commissioner Stephen Ravindra, the Minister directed district collectors and civil supplies officials to complete procurement operations within the next ten days through “result-oriented field action.”

The drive was launched in the backdrop of unprecedented agricultural output, mounting arrivals at procurement centres, severe labour shortages, heat wave conditions and unseasonal rains threatening standing stocks in market yards. He said total arrivals are expected to touch 70–75 LMT, and assured farmers of steps for procuring the entire 75 LMT despite operational and financial pressures. 

He said Telangana recorded an estimated 140.81 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy production during the current Rabi season from a record 65.91 lakh acres brought under cultivation. Calling it the “highest ever production and procurement exercise,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana was now conducting one of the largest farmer-support operations in the country. “This is not a routine procurement exercise. This is a statewide mission to protect farmers under extremely difficult conditions,” he observed.

Even rain-drenched paddy to be procured In a major relief to farmers, Uttam Kumar Reddy categorically ordered officials to purchase even rain-exposed paddy. “Paddy exposed to rain will also be procured. No farmer should suffer losses because of weather conditions,” he declared.

Centre’s Procurement “Limited to 52 LMT”

Uttam Kumar Reddy also pointed out that while the Central Government announces MSP, its procurement support to Telangana remains limited. “The Centre’s procurement from Telangana is restricted to around 52 lakh metric tonnes. Beyond that, the State government itself is taking responsibility for additional procurement from farmers,” he said. He urged Ministers, MLAs and public representatives to explain these realities to farmers and reassure them that the State government would continue procurement operations without interruption.

As of May 23, 2026, procurement operations had already reached staggering levels. Some 58.79 LMT of paddy had arrived at procurement centres and 50.01 LMT had already been procured. Nearly 85% of arrived stock had been cleared. Around 8.78 LMT remained pending and would be cleared within 72 hours. Another 16 LMT was expected from late-harvest districts within the next 10 days. The Civil Supplies Department has already been working in mission mode with a fixed daily procurement target of 3 LMT.

Collectors asked to take spot decisions

The Minister directed district collectors and civil supplies officers to resolve procurement bottlenecks immediately at the field level instead of waiting for procedural approvals. “All officials must totally focus on paddy procurement. Field-level decisions should be taken on the spot to speed up the process,” he instructed.

Ra 8,749 Crore MSP Already Released

The financial scale of the operation is equally massive. The State government has already released Rs 8,749.82 crore towards MSP payments to farmers.  To sustain the procurement drive, the government has mobilised one of the largest rural transport and storage networks in Telangana’s history. The operation currently includes- 8,575 Paddy Procurement Centres, over 12,900 transport vehicles and deployment of 20.86 crore gunny bags.  Additionally, over 7 LMT storage capacity was hired of late to support   the operation. Night-shift procurement operations and inter-district transport coordination have also been introduced to speed up lifting and mill unloading.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said no other State had opened such a large network of procurement centres during a Rabi marketing season. He said he had personally toured several districts, including Nalgonda, to assess procurement operations on the ground. Districts such as Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Nalgonda, Narayanpet and Khammam emerged as top performers in procurement efficiency.

He noted that top 10 districts alone accounted for nearly 70% of total State procurement. At the same time, districts including Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Vikarabad, Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Warangal were identified for intensified monitoring due to delayed arrivals and pending balances.

Labour crisis slowed operations

The Minister acknowledged that this year’s procurement exercise faced extraordinary operational stress.He explained that many migrant hamalis and rice mill workers from West Bengal and Bihar  had left  for their won states during the recent assembly elections and had not returned on time. This resulted in labour shortage significantly slowing down procurement and transport operations.

Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao separately directed officials to strictly adhere to the government’s 10-day deadline for completing procurement operations.