Paddy production in Telangana beyond expectation: Anand

Paddy purchase during Rabi season in Telangana is very high. Production has exceeded the expectation like never before in Telangana State. Paddy purchase is also in record scale.

Commissioner Of Civil Supplies C.v. Anand said measures have been taken to check that paddy was purchased from the farmer on Minimum Support Price, with continuous monitoring and support of all the officials from ground to state level. Coordination from Marketing, Transport and other departments also helped farmers to sell their produce without facing any difficulties.

More than 25.95 Lakh Metric Tons of paddy has been purchased till now, 18.65 LMTs more than the last year Rabi season.  According to fresh estimates till now production reached 42.44 LMT, exceeding the expectation of 37 LMT.

In 2015-16 Rabi season only 7,28,829 metric tons of paddy was purchased from 1,51,950 farmers through 1262 purchase centers.

Special focus by officials, especially by Joint Collectors was set on purchase of paddy and transport from ground level. The Commissioner of Civil Supplies is having day-to-day monitoring in state level with other officials. Even a slight problem anywhere is taken care personally.

Joint Collectors, with the support of RTA officials, are personally getting involved and clearing the difficulties in transport of supplies. Checking is done on paddy purchase and transport by passing information on What’s Up groups to one another. Rice millers are also co-operating in all levels.

Anand held meeting with officials on Sunday in Civil Supplies Bhavan to check paddy purchase.

No Shortage of Gunny Bags

The Civil Supplies Commissioner said, “For the purchasing expected 37 lakh metric tons of paddy, 9.25 crores of Gunny bags were available. In this 9.05 crore bags are new and Civil Supplies department have 20 lakh bags with it. Now the expectation has exceeded to 42.44 Lakh Metric Tons. Up to 10.61 lakh gunny bags more are required. As per demand about one crore bags are already in position district godowns, another 30 lakh bags are necessary. The remaining bags will be given before the allotted bags are used. Due to lack of co-ordination few problems developed in some places of Siddipet, Sangareddy, Jagitial which were solved immediately”.

“All the details of paddy procurement from farmers are entered in the website, and the bills are been cleared. Amount is transferred online to farmer bank accounts. Paddy is purchased from farmers on MSP for Grade ‘A’ if Rs. 1510, normal quality per quintal Rs. 1470,” he said.

The Commissioner briefed that till now Rs. 3917.46 crores worth of 25.95 LMTs paddy has been purchased from 4,45,373 farmers from 2979 purchase centers. Track sheet is generated for Rs. 2654.64 crores worth of paddy and Rs. 2081.01 crores has been released. Rs. 1848.46 crores has been paid until now and in span of seven days Rs. 1664.11 crores (90.19%) is paid to farmers.”

Arrangements at purchase centers are taken as it is expected that about 10 to 15 LMTs paddy is believed to arrive by this month end.

The Commissioner ordered to regulate plans to shift the paddy purchased from farmers to mills from time to time. Millers then should transport the rice after processing in mills to Food Corporation of India (FCI), and officials should inspect from ground level the process is according to the scheduled plan in correct procedure.