Hyderabad: Former Minister and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao on Wednesday accused the Congress government of failing to support maize farmers in Telangana during the harvest season. In an open letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, he demanded immediate procurement and payment of the promised price and bonus.
He expressed concern that farmers were repeatedly forced to remind the government of their distress. “Nearly 7 lakh acres of maize have been sown across the State, and the harvest is already underway,” Rao wrote. “Yet, procurement centres remain unopened, while market yards are overflowing.”
Farmers forced to sell below MSP
Harish Rao alleged that in the absence of procurement centres, private traders are purchasing maize at exploitative rates. “The MSP is ₹2,400 per quintal, and the Congress manifesto promised an additional ₹330 bonus. But farmers are selling for as low as ₹1,600 per quintal,” he said.
He criticised the government for failing to implement either the MSP or the bonus, causing heavy financial losses to farmers. “Middlemen are profiting while our farmers suffer,” he added.
Calls for urgent action
Rao said the government’s indifference had left farmers in tears. “Instead of focusing on Delhi tours and political settlements, you should focus on the cries of our annadatas,” he told the Chief Minister.
He demanded that maize procurement centres be opened immediately. He also urged the government to pay ₹2,400 per quintal along with the promised ₹330 bonus, as committed in the Congress manifesto.
“Political vendettas cannot come before farmers’ welfare. Our demands are not political they are about justice,” he concluded.
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— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) October 8, 2025