Hyderabad: Telangana Minister for Irrigation, Food and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has written to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi seeking immediate intervention on multiple procurement and subsidy-related issues impacting the State Civil Supplies Department during the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025–26.
In the letter dated 12 December, Reddy highlighted seven critical demands, including an additional allocation of 10 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of boiled rice under KMS 2024–25 (Rabi crop). He said Rabi paddy in Telangana is suitable for parboiling and the extra quota is essential to complete Custom Milled Rice (CMR) deliveries.
The State also sought an extension of the CMR delivery deadline for Kharif 2024–25 till 31 January 2026, as around 3.5 LMT of paddy remains with millers. Reddy further requested the allotment of more railway rakes, noting a 13.5 LMT shortfall in movement compared to the previous year.
Telangana seeks revised targets and clearance of subsidy dues
The State has requested an upward revision of its current procurement target from 36 LMT to 80 LMT of rice, against an estimated production of 148 LMT. Without this increase, Reddy warned, farmers may be forced into distress sales due to lack of adequate procurement.
He also urged the Centre to sanction an additional 15 LMT of storage capacity under Central schemes to meet rising paddy output.
On financial matters, Telangana demanded the release of ₹1,468 crore in pending subsidy for 6.88 LMT of excess mill levy rice procured in 2014–15, and ₹343.27 crore under the PMGKAY scheme for 89,988 MT of rice distributed in April 2022. Both claims remain unresolved despite prior discussions with Food Corporation of India (FCI) officials.
The Minister appealed for prompt resolution to these issues to ensure uninterrupted procurement operations and ease the financial burden on the State during the ongoing KMS cycle.