Hyderabad: Telangana Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar assured support to farmers after inspecting rain-soaked paddy at a procurement centre following unseasonal rains.
The minister visited the procurement centre at Maddulapalli village on Thursday evening after untimely rain affected paddy stocks across the mandal.
During the visit, Laxman Kumar said delays in paddy weighing occurred because of rules introduced by the Centre. He blamed the Union government for the hardships faced by farmers.
According to the minister, paddy stocks piled up at rice mills because the Centre was not procuring grain. He also criticised the previous BRS government over its handling of farmer issues.
Support to farmers promised at procurement centres
Laxman Kumar said the previous chief minister had discouraged paddy cultivation. He further alleged that leaders representing the region earlier ignored farmers and advised them to negotiate directly with millers.
Moreover, the minister said deductions were imposed in the name of moisture content. However, after learning about crop damage caused by unseasonal rain, the government began inspecting procurement centres to prevent losses to farmers.
He assured that the government stood firmly with farmers and would directly address their problems.
The minister also stated that if rice mill capacity in the district became insufficient, the government would allocate additional handloom warehouses in Sirisilla district for storage.
Furthermore, he said the government would soon release a Government Order on the matter. He assured farmers that every grain produced by them would be procured by the state.
Laxman Kumar warned that officials responsible for procurement centres would face action if farmers experienced difficulties during paddy weighing operations.
Support to farmers extended through veterinary services
The minister also promised efforts for the welfare of dairy farmers across the mandal.
He inaugurated a veterinary camp organised under the Praja Palana Pragathi Pranalika programme at Maddulapalli village.
During the programme, Laxman Kumar urged dairy farmers to utilise government veterinary services effectively for livestock care.
He also promised to work towards strengthening sub-centres attached to veterinary hospitals in the region.
District Veterinary Officer Dr. Prakash, Mandal Veterinary Officer Dr. Hemalatha, Market Committee Chairman Burra Ramulu Goud and several local leaders attended the programme.