Telangana to buy wet paddy from farmers as part of procurement: KCR

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday assured farmers that Telangana Government would procure every grain of paddy damaged due to untimely rains.

KCR appealed to the farmers not to worry about the paddy which was drenched in rains. The Chief Minister said that the state government would pay equal price to the damaged paddy as much for normal paddy during procurement.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the Telangana government's aim was to protect agriculture and rescue farmers from their hardship.

In the wake of incessant untimely rains in the recent times, KCR directed the Agriculture Department to study what policies should be adopted so that Yasangi paddy harvesting could be completed before March and take appropriate measures to sensitize the farmers in this direction. The CM also suggested to the farmers to postpone the harvesting for another three to four days.

The Chief Minister held a high level review meeting on the procurement of Yasangi paddy and soaked paddy, measures to ensure early harvesting of Yasangi paddy in future, and activities of the Agriculture department at Dr BR Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat on Tuesday.

KCR said: "The Telangana Government's activities for the development of agriculture and the welfare of farmers' families are providing unprecedented benefits and the state has stood as a role model for the country. Telangana surpassed many states in paddy production. The government is procuring every grain of paddy from the farmers at their fields. Telangana government is the only one in the country which is implementing an action plan for the welfare of farmers with sincerity and determination. It is unfortunate that the state is receiving unabated untimely hailstorms and rains. There is no control to humans over natural calamities. However, the state government did not keep silent. The state government is already supporting the farmers who have lost crops due to hail storms by providing Rs 10,000 per acre, despite heavy burden on the state exchequer.

The officials explained to the CM about the details of procurement of Yasangi paddy which is already going on across the state. Officials told KCR that some difficulties were confronted in the process of procurement due to untimely rains. Commissioner of Civil Supplies Department Anil Kumar explained to the Chief Minister that procurement would be completed soon. As the state was likely to witness rains for another three to four days, KCR advised the farmers to stop harvesting the paddy so that the grain did not get wet.

KCR advised the agriculture department and farmers to take this untimely rain as a lesson and create awareness in advance to avoid future losses. He requested the farmers to take up paddy plantation in advance and ensure the Yasangi paddy harvesting is completed by March-end every year.

He asked the Agriculture Department to conduct more scientific studies in this direction and sensitize the farmers. Farmers should also be made aware of the use of fertilizers, he pointed out.

He wanted the officials to create awareness among farmers on the changes that occurred in agricultural practices through leaflets, posters, advertisements etc.

KCR asked the Secretary of the Agriculture Department Raghunandan Rao to alert the officials in this direction from time to time to the lower level of Agricultural Extension Officers. They should always be available to the farmers and give suitable instructions to monitor.

He wanted the officials to work at the field level by using Rythu Vedikas (Farmers' platforms). Strict action would be taken if the officials failed to discharge their duties sincerely. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari was asked to conduct surprise inspections.