Uttam leads Ground Review to Fast Track Paddy Movement

Metro India News | Hyderabad

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday directed officials to ensure seamless logistics and speedy movement of paddy during the ongoing Rabi (Yasangi) 2025-26 procurement season, describing it as a landmark period for Telangana agriculture in terms of both production and procurement. During extensive inspections in erstwhile Nalgonda and Khammam districts, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to procure every grain of paddy at Minimum Support Price and assured farmers that no one would be left out. He stated that procurement would continue until the last grain was lifted, including paddy affected by untimely rains.

The Minister inspected procurement operations at Chetla Chennaram purchase centre in Kanagal mandal, where he interacted with hamalis from West Bengal engaged in loading operations. He appreciated their contribution and instructed officials to provide improved facilities and welfare support to workers involved in the procurement drive. He also reviewed milling operations and paddy movement at Balaji Rice Mill in the same mandal.

Later, Uttam Kumar Reddy visited Nayakangudem procurement centre in Khammam district and assured farmers that the government was taking all necessary steps to speed up procurement and transportation of paddy to mills and storage points.

In a strong direction to district administrations, the Minister asked Collectors of paddy-producing districts to requisition all available lorries and DCM vehicles for paddy transportation. He instructed officials to coordinate closely with police and transport departments to ensure uninterrupted logistics support. He also suggested requisitioning vehicles currently engaged in sand transport and other non-priority activities, if required, and appealed to cement companies to temporarily spare their transport vehicles for paddy movement.

The Minister said Telangana was witnessing its largest ever procurement exercise with 8,575 procurement centres functioning across the state and Rs 22,000 crore allocated for procurement operations. Rabi paddy cultivation covered more than 65 lakh acres this season, with production expected to cross 141 lakh metric tonnes. The government aims to procure 90 lakh metric tonnes. More than 18.67 crore gunny bags have been arranged while over 1,800 millers are participating in milling operations. The Minister noted that the Centre had recognised Telangana as the country’s top paddy-producing state.