Cabinet Sub-Committee ready with its report on paddy procurement, says Uttam

By IND Today News Desk Last updated Oct 23, 2024

Cabinet Sub-Committee ready with its report on paddy procurement, says Uttam

Hyderabad, October 23: The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Paddy Procurement is set to submit its report to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday. The report, which contains recommendations on various issues related to paddy procurement for the Kharif season of 2024-25, will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting scheduled for October 26.

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This announcement was made by Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday after chairing a meeting with public representatives from the joint Nizamabad district at Civil Supplies Bhavan. The meeting was attended by Industries Minister and Cabinet Sub-Committee member D Sridhar Babu, Govt Whip Lakshman Kumar, Advisors to the Government Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Mohammed Ali Shabbir, MLC and TPCC President B Mahesh Kumar Goud, MLAs B Sudarshan Reddy and Laxmikantha Rao, MLC Balamoori Venkat, Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Civil Supplies DS Chauhan, Civil Supplies Director Prasad, and other senior officials.

Addressing the gathering, Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, has been tasked with studying and making recommendations on a range of paddy procurement issues, which include the bank guarantee or security deposit from millers, milling charges, the cost of upgrading sannabiyyam (10% broken rice) for distribution under schemes such as the MDM, hostels, and ICDS, the role of the Agriculture Department in sannarakam paddy purchases, the storage of 10 LMTs of paddy in intermediary godowns of SWC/AMC, and driage loss during paddy storage. The committee has held multiple meetings with stakeholders and is finalizing its recommendations.

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During the meeting, discussions focused on various issues, including bank guarantee, milling charges, and storage capacity in the Nizamabad district.

According to Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Action Plan received from various districts indicates that paddy has been cultivated on 60.73 lakh acres of land, with an estimated production of 146.70 LMTs of paddy. The expected procurement volume stands at 80 LMTs, which includes 30 LMTs of coarse paddy and 50 LMTs of ‘sannarakam’ paddy.

This season, the State Government’s flagship initiative, providing an additional benefit of Rs. 500 per quintal for ‘sannarakam’ paddy, will be implemented. Preliminary instructions have already been issued to the districts for the identification, purchase, and separate maintenance of ‘sannarakam’ paddy stocks from the ‘doddurakam’ variety. The additional Rs. 500 will be directly credited to the accounts of farmers selling ‘sannarakam’ paddy at PPCs via the Finance Department’s e-Kuber platform.

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To raise awareness among farmers, posters detailing the MSP rate, FAQ specifications, and the additional benefit of Rs. 500 per quintal have been printed and distributed to the districts. A total of 7,248 Paddy Procurement Centres (PPCs) will be opened, of which 2,539 are already operational. Arrangements for transport and infrastructure have been made at the PPCs. These centers will be equipped with the necessary infrastructure, including moisture meters, weighing scales, tarpaulins, paddy cleaners, driers, husk removers, and dial calipers to identify the ‘sannarakam’ paddy. Sufficient gunny bags are also being made available at the PPCs.

While the finalization of tender rates by the State Level Committee is pending, instructions have been issued to districts to continue using the services of existing contractors until new contractors are appointed. Further, it has been mandated that PPCs must be equipped with basic amenities such as water and shelter. Adequate manpower for paddy purchases, TAB entries, bookkeeping, and the arrangement of hamali services are also being ensured.

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District Collectors have been instructed to form teams for the continuous monitoring of paddy purchases, ensuring that farmers are not subjected to difficulties or resort to distress sales. Particular focus has been placed on preventing issues such as weight reductions on the grounds of moisture and foreign matter, exploitation of farmers by intermediaries, and avoiding paddy damage or loss of life at PPCs due to adverse weather conditions. This will be managed through weather predictions and scheduling paddy arrivals accordingly. The district administration has been directed to promptly address any negative news related to paddy procurement. A Grievance Redressal Cell with a toll-free number has also been set up at the head office to resolve farmers’ issues.

Once the Cabinet Sub-Committee submits its report, the State Cabinet will make decisions on major issues such as the bank guarantee and milling charges. Uttam Kumar Reddy also informed that paddy procurement has already begun in the districts of Nalgonda and Yadadri. As of October 22, 1,440 MTs of paddy worth Rs. 3.34 crore had been procured from 230 farmers. He expressed optimism that the paddy procurement for the Kharif 2024-25 season would proceed smoothly and set new records. (Maxim News)