■ Minister Uttam reviews procurement progress in video conference with District Collectors

■ Uttam Kumar Reddy assures purchase of rain-soaked paddy

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The Congress government in Telangana, doing procurement at an unprecedented pace, has achieved a record by procuring over 50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in the ongoing Rabi (Yasangi) season as of May 15, 2025 - double the quantity procured during the same period under the previous BRS regime. This was announced by Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy during a high-level video conference with District Collectors and senior officials held at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Secretariat on Friday.

Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out that in the Rabi 2022–23 season, paddy procurement stood at 25.35 LMT, which increased to 32.93 LMT in Rabi 2023–24. This year, in the ongoing Rabi 2024–25 season, procurement has reached 49.53 LMT by mid-May, a historic high and a clear reflection of the Congress government’s commitment to farmers.

He said this achievement was made possible by efficient coordination between departments, proactive planning and a farmer-centric approach. This season’s procurement follows record paddy cultivation across 60.14 lakh acres during the Yasangi season, with an estimated output of 129.35 LMT. Against this backdrop, the government had set a procurement target of 70.13 LMT, of which more than 71 percent has already been achieved by mid-May.

To accommodate the surge in production and ensure smooth procurement, the government significantly ramped up its infrastructure. A record 8,348 Paddy Procurement Centres (PPCs) were established this season, which is 1,311 more than in the previous Rabi season. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the expansion of procurement operations was done to ensure that no farmer is made to wait or suffer during the sale of their produce.

The Minister reiterated that the government would also procure moisture-laden paddy affected by unseasonal rains. He assured farmers that even if their crops have been soaked by recent unseasonal rains, the government will procure the damaged paddy to prevent distress sales. He directed District Collectors to maintain strict ground-level monitoring and immediately identify and address any logistical or administrative gaps.