HYDERABAD: Telangana has exported its first consignment of rice to the Philippines, marking a major milestone in entering global markets for the state’s surplus paddy, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced on Monday.
Speaking to the media after flagging off the shipment at Kakinada Port, the Minister said that 12,500 metric tonnes of rice had been dispatched earlier in the day. “This is a significant moment for Telangana’s farmers and our agriculture sector,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that Telangana has become a leading paddy-producing state, owing to favourable soil, climate, and the proactive support of the Congress government. He noted that paddy is the main crop cultivated by farmers and that production has steadily increased. “This year’s paddy production reached around 280 lakh metric tonnes (LMTs), which far exceeds the requirements of the state and central pool,” he added.
He explained that the State Government has been bearing a substantial financial burden in procuring paddy due to delays in payments for Custom Milled Rice (CMR) by the Government of India and the Food Corporation of India (FCI). This has resulted in heavy interest payments.
To address the surplus and reduce financial strain, the government explored export opportunities. “We found a prospective buyer in the Philippines, which, after thoroughly assessing Telangana’s rice samples, showed interest in importing,” he said.
Several rounds of discussions were held between Telangana and Philippine officials. The Philippines agreed to an initial procurement of 1 LMT of rice and 8 LMTs of paddy from Telangana. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between The Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (TGSCSCL) and Planters Products Inc., representing the Philippine government.
The agreement outlines the export of IR64/MTU1010 rice variety, with 5% broken grains, well-milled, polished, and sortex quality. The rice must meet stringent standards, including low moisture (up to 14%), and minimal levels of foreign matter, damaged, discoloured, or red grains.
Uttam Kumar Reddy informed that 103 rice mills across Telangana participated in milling the MSP paddy for export. “This is just the beginning. We are confident that Telangana rice will soon find a strong place in global markets,” he said.
The Minister congratulated farmers, rice millers, and Civil Supplies Corporation officials for their contribution and reiterated the government’s commitment to boosting farmer incomes while reducing the state’s financial load.
I flagged off the first consignment of Telangana rice to the Philippines from Kakinada Port today, marking a historic entry of TG into the global rice export market.
Senior officials from Civil Supplies Corporation & representatives from the Philippines delegation were present pic.twitter.com/tnpb6i7Gjy
— Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamINC) March 31, 2025
