Telangana is set to script history with the procurement of an estimated 80 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of kharif paddy, the highest-ever in the state or any single state in the country. Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy appealed to the Centre to enhance procurement targets, ease delivery norms and provide urgent storage and logistical support to protect farmers from distress sales.
“We expect to procure about 80 LMT of paddy this kharif season, which will be the highest ever. The earlier record was 67 LMT,” Reddy said. Of this, 45–50 LMT will be fine variety and 30–35 LMT coarse paddy. At the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,389 per quintal, the procurement bill could touch Rs 20,000 crore, rising to as much as Rs 26,000 crore with bonus and transport expenses — the highest outlay for a single crop in the country.
The minister strongly objected to the Centre’s latest order mandating only parboiled rice delivery and extending the deadline for Custom Milled Rice (CMR) from kharif up to November 12, 2025.
“Kharif paddy is more suitable for raw rice conversion. Currently, 7.80 LMT is with raw rice millers and 1.67 LMT with boiled rice millers. We are requesting the Centre to allow delivery of both raw and boiled rice, and shift the boiled rice target to the rabi season,” he urged.
Reddy flagged that undelivered stocks — 5.44 LMT from kharif and 14.92 LMT from rabi — had already forced millers to halt operations, leaving laborers out of work.
Telangana is grappling with a severe shortage of storage space. Of the 22.61 LMT capacity in FCI godowns, nearly all — 21.72 LMT — is filled, leaving just 0.89 LMT vacant. “Your FCI godowns in Telangana are full. Please give at least 300 special rakes per month to empty them and lease additional storage space,” Reddy appealed.
At a recent meeting of Food Secretaries, the Centre approved procurement of 36 LMT of rice (equivalent to 53.73 LMT paddy) between September 30, 2025 and June 15, 2026. However, Telangana projects a kharif harvest of 148.30 LMT.
“We are requesting procurement of another 10 LMT this kharif crop. The target must be revised to 53.60 LMT of rice (80 LMT paddy), otherwise lakhs of farmers will suffer distress sales,” the minister stressed.
He also raised concerns over pending rabi stocks. Telangana procured 74 LMT in the last season, but the Centre cleared only 53 LMT. “We request that another 10 LMT be lifted from rabi stock and the procurement deadline be extended from October 31 to January 31, 2026, so that another 30 LMT can be accommodated,” he added.
With FCI releasing rice under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) at Rs 24 per kg, private procurement has dipped sharply, forcing farmers to sell at Rs 16–17 per kg. This, Reddy said, made government procurement all the more critical.
“Unless additional lifting and storage are arranged, smooth procurement cannot be ensured. Revising delivery norms, creating storage space and enhancing procurement targets are essential to stabilise the market, prevent distress sales and protect farmers’ welfare,” he emphasised.
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