Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy Writes to the Central Government

Uttam Kumar Reddy, a minister from Telangana, has written to the central government raising urgent concerns over paddy procurement issues. He requested the fixation of a target of 5 lakh metric tonnes of boiled rice for the Rabi 2024–25 season and suggested reducing the FCI raw rice target. He also highlighted that 8.45 lakh metric tonnes of rice delivery is still pending. As the deadline has already expired, he appealed for an extension of 60 more days to complete the supply. The minister further stated that millers have agreed to supply boiled rice with 5% broken grains.

Additionally, he urged the central government to increase the boiled rice target for the KMS 2025–26 season from 20 LMTs to 40 LMTs. He noted that paddy production is estimated at 71.86 LMTs during the Kharif season and 95 LMTs in the Rabi season. However, he expressed concern that the current targets are insufficient to match the increased production, leading to rising stockpiles. He emphasized that continuous procurement is essential to ensure farmers receive the Minimum Support Price (MSP). He also pointed out that excess paddy is placing a significant financial burden on the state and requested a two-month extension along with a favorable decision from the central government.