HYDERABAD — Telangana's agricultural heartland is gearing up for what could be one of its most crucial harvest seasons. The state government has laid out an ambitious ₹18,250 crore plan to procure Kharif paddy, aiming to shield farmers from market uncertainties and ensure they receive fair value for their crops.

Key facts

  • ₹18,250 crore allocated for paddy procurement
  • 8,283 purchase centers to be established statewide
  • ₹500 per quintal bonus for seven premium varieties
  • Procurement target: 65 lakh tonnes of paddy

A massive procurement operation

Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy left no room for ambiguity during Saturday's preparatory meeting. His instructions to officials were clear: make fool-proof arrangements. Farmers should neither suffer delays at purchase centers nor face difficulties in receiving payments. The urgency in his voice reflected the scale of what lies ahead.

Preparing the ground

Officials are racing against time to establish 8,283 Paddy Purchase Centres across the state before October 1. This includes 3,180 IKP centres, 4,372 PACS centres, and 731 other locations. The timing is critical — production arrivals are scheduled to commence from October 15, giving them just two weeks to get everything in place.

"Farmers should neither suffer delays at purchase centres nor face any difficulties in receiving payments"

The Minister's words hang in the air, a promise that must be kept. He knows too well how transportation bottlenecks and payment delays can break a farmer's spirit. His specific warning about contractors — ensure they actually possess the required lorries — shows he's thinking about every possible hurdle.

Rewarding quality

What makes this procurement stand out is the thoughtful approach to varietal preference. The government isn't just buying paddy — it's incentivizing quality. Seven varieties will receive an additional ₹500 per quintal bonus: BPT-5204, RNR-15048, KNM-1638, Jaisriram, HMT-Sona, WGL-44 and KNM-7715.

Reddy emphasized these weren't arbitrary choices. The selection came from studying domestic and international markets, identifying varieties that command better prices. The goal is simple but profound: ensure farmers get remunerative prices, whether through government procurement or open markets.

With an estimated production of 119.57 lakh tonnes from 57.7 lakh acres, the government plans to procure 45 lakh tonnes of fine ('sanna') varieties and 20 lakh tonnes of common ('doddu') varieties. The numbers are staggering, but so is the determination behind them.