Uttam orders foolproof plan for Rs 18,250-crore paddy procurement

Hyderabad: Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday directed officials to make foolproof arrangements for Telangana’s massive Rs 18,250-crore Kharif paddy procurement operation, saying farmers should neither suffer delays at purchase centres nor face difficulties in receiving payments.

Addressing Additional Collectors, District Civil Supplies Officers, District Managers of TGSCSCL and other officials from across the State at a review of Vanakalam (Kharif) procurement, Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana was preparing to procure 65 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy during Kharif marketing season 2026-27. The Minister said 8,283 paddy purchase centres (PPCs) would be established, including 3,180 IKP centres, 4,372 PACS centres and 731 other centres. He directed that all centres be opened by October 1, ahead of procurement scheduled to commence from October 15.

The State estimates paddy production during the present Kharif season at 119.57 LMT from 57.70 lakh acres, while TGSCSCL is preparing to procure 65 LMT — 45 LMT of Sanna paddy and 20 LMT of Doddu paddy.

With November and December expected to record peak arrivals of 24.72 LMT and 25.32 LMT respectively, the Minister instructed officials to complete arrangements for tantastorage, gunny bags, transport, hamalies and equipment beforehand. He particularly flagged problems relating to transportation.

Drawing from field-level experience, Uttam Kumar Reddy said officials should ensure that contractors bidding for transportation actually possess or have assured access to the required number of lorries. Transportation bottlenecks should not be allowed to disrupt lifting of paddy from purchase centres.

Against a total requirement of 16.25 crore gunny bags, 3.50 crore were presently available, with the balance under procurement.

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