‘Where Is the Procurement?’ KTR Targets Government

metro india news  I hyderabad

Bharat Rashtra Samithi Working President K. T. Rama Rao alleged that the State Government has failed to procure maize even at a minimum level, questioning its claims of procuring six lakh metric tonnes while farmers continue to face severe distress on the ground.

During his visit to Jangaon constituency on Tuesday, KTR, along with MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy and MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra, inspected the IKP procurement centre at Yashwanthapur village. Interacting with farmers, he was informed that procurement has remained stalled for the past 15 days, leaving farmers in a difficult situation. Farmers expressed frustration that repeated representations to MARKFED officials and district authorities have yielded no results.

Responding to the issue, KTR spoke to MARKFED Managing Director Srinivas Reddy and strongly questioned the agency’s inaction. He demanded that the government clearly state whether it intends to procure farmers’ produce, emphasizing that uncertainty is compounding farmers’ hardships.

KTR accused the government of deliberately avoiding procurement to escape paying the Minimum Support Price of ₹2,460 and any additional bonus that may be due to farmers. He further alleged that financial mismanagement has crippled MARKFED, claiming that nearly ₹23,000 crore raised in its name was diverted for other purposes, leaving the agency without funds to carry out procurement operations. 

According to him, this has led to a complete halt in maize procurement across the State.

He also criticized the government for failing to implement assurances made to farmers, including those announced during Rahul Gandhi Warangal Farmers Declaration, stating that there has been no visible progress on the ground.

Demanding immediate action, KTR called for the release of Rythu Bandhu assistance and urged the government to undertake unconditional procurement of all crops without delay. 

He warned that the BRS would intensify its agitation and lay siege to the government if farmers’ produce is not procured promptly.

As part of his tour, KTR also visited procurement centres in Geesugonda mandal and the Narsampet market in Warangal district, where farmers voiced similar concerns over stalled procurement. 

Later, he visited the family of RTC driver Shankar Goud, who recently died by suicide while seeking resolution of workers’ issues, and conveyed his condolences while assuring support to the bereaved family.