Government Avoiding Paddy Procurement to Escape MSP and Bonus Payments: KTR

After visiting paddy procurement centres in the Sircilla constituency, BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao strongly criticised the state government over its handling of grain purchases. He alleged that the government is deliberately avoiding paddy procurement because it would have to pay farmers the Minimum Support Price (MSP) along with the promised bonus. KTR said that although farmers in Sircilla district have been bringing their produce to procurement centres for the past month, not a single grain has been purchased so far. He questioned how procurement could take place without allocating rice mills and accused the government of creating space for middlemen by intentionally delaying the process.

KTR further stated that even the promised Rythu Bandhu assistance is not being provided to farmers. He claimed that local officials themselves admitted that not even 1,000 quintals of paddy had been procured so far. Due to unseasonal rains, farmers are reportedly purchasing tarpaulin covers at their own expense to protect their wet grain from damage. Calling it one of the most negligent governments he has seen, KTR demanded immediate procurement of farmers’ produce and warned that his party would launch protests if action was not taken. He also expressed confidence that his party would return to power in two years and assured that farmers would then be protected with utmost priority.