Hyderabad: Minister Ponnam Prabhakar directed officials to ensure that farmers did not face difficulties during the ongoing paddy procurement process in Siddipet district.
The paddy procurement review took place during a meeting held at the Siddipet district collectorate with officials, millers and transport contractors.
Ponnam Prabhakar said authorities could complete procurement within ten days if they purchased and transported 20,000 metric tonnes of paddy to mills every day.
Therefore, he instructed millers, officials, transport contractors and procurement centre managers to work in coordination.
Paddy procurement review focuses on farmer support
The Minister said paddy output in the Yasangi season exceeded official estimates and reached four lakh metric tonnes in the district.
Officials established 427 procurement centres across Siddipet district and already opened 390 centres for operations.
Ponnam Prabhakar said authorities had procured 1.20 lakh metric tonnes of paddy and shifted the grain to rice mills.
He also directed rice millers to appoint additional hamalis and speed up unloading operations. Moreover, he instructed officials to weigh paddy immediately after moisture levels reached acceptable limits.
The Minister asked officials to ensure adequate transport vehicles so farmers would not face delays in grain transportation.
Paddy procurement review stresses fine rice cultivation
Ponnam Prabhakar directed the Agriculture Department to prepare a special action plan to encourage fine rice cultivation among farmers.
He instructed officials to hold special meetings with Agricultural Extension Officers and promote fine variety paddy cultivation across the district.
The Minister said authorities should create awareness among farmers to cultivate 2.5 lakh metric tonnes of fine paddy in Siddipet district.
District Collector K. Haimavathi said the district recorded 46,000 metric tonnes of maize production. She added that authorities had already procured 24,500 metric tonnes of maize to prevent inconvenience to farmers.
Police Commissioner Rashmi Perumal, District Civil Supplies Officer Tanuja, District Civil Supplies Manager Gopikrishna, District Marketing Officer Nagaraju and other officials attended the review meeting.