Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao on Monday accused the Centre of discriminating against the state in matters related to grain procurement and Minimum Support Price (MSP).
He criticised the Union government’s approach to procurement.
He alleged that repeated requests from the Telangana government had not received the expected response.
The minister said the Centre was not extending adequate support to the state.
He alleged that the Union government merely announced MSP.
Thereafter, it distanced itself from procurement responsibilities.
Thummala Nageswara Rao questioned the discrimination against Telangana.
He said the state was procuring grain at the MSP fixed by the Centre.
He added that Telangana was following all procurement norms and guidelines.
Grain procurement responsibility rests with Centre, says Thummala
The minister asserted that the Centre has a primary responsibility to procure all crops covered under the MSP system.
However, he alleged that the Union government was avoiding its obligations.
As a result, farmers and the state government were facing difficulties.
Meanwhile, Thummala said the Telangana government had stepped in to support farmers.
He stated that the state had already procured 15 lakh metric tonnes of maize.
Additionally, it had purchased two lakh metric tonnes of jowar.
According to the minister, the state undertook these purchases to protect farmers from market uncertainties.
Furthermore, he demanded that the Centre lift the entire stock procured by the Telangana government.
Thummala said farmers should not suffer because of policy differences between the Centre and the state.
He reiterated that Telangana would continue to safeguard farmers’ interests.
The state would also ensure support for agricultural producers, he added.