Paddy procurement is likely to trigger a new tussle between the Centre and the state government in the present kharif season. Procurement is likely to begin on November 1. Telangana is set for a record paddy production of 1.7 crore tonnes in kharif; the crop area sown was the highest ever at 65 lakh acres.
Now, the Centre has proposed to rope in private players for paddy purchase including Food Corporation of India and the state’s agencies which the government is strongly opposed to. The Centre had rejected to buy boiled rice from Telangana in the rabi season, saying it would buy raw rice.
Due to the summer heat, the state produces produces boiled rice during rabi. As per the order given by the Centre, the government was stressed to produce raw rice which cause great losses for rice mills. The state government has promised to pick up the tab. The issue led to a political slugfest that climaxed when chief minister sat on a dharna first in the city and then in Delhi. According to the official sources, the chief minister was engaging against private players in the procurement process on the ground that farmers may not get minimum support price from the private sector.