Hyderabad: BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao on Saturday alleged a complete collapse of procurement operations after inspecting a centre in Baddenapalli village of Sircilla constituency amid a paddy procurement crisis.
Farmers had brought their produce to the centre over a month earlier. Yet officials failed to purchase even a single grain. As a result, he said the situation exposed serious gaps in planning and execution.
He questioned the absence of rice mill allocations. Moreover, he asked how authorities could begin procurement and weighing without basic arrangements. He added that the system lacked essential infrastructure to handle incoming produce.
Rama Rao accused the Congress government of deliberately delaying procurement. According to him, the move aimed to avoid paying Minimum Support Price and bonuses. Consequently, he said the delays pushed farmers towards middlemen who charged commissions.
Paddy procurement crisis highlights MSP delay issues
He also dismissed assurances on Rythu Bandhu, calling them “empty promises”. He said farmers were not receiving the promised support. Meanwhile, citing inputs from local officials, he noted that procurement had not crossed even 1,000 quintals in Sircilla so far.
Farmers spent their own money on tarpaulins to protect paddy from unseasonal rains. This step increased their financial burden further.
Rama Rao criticised Rahul Gandhi as well. He said claims of running a “farmers’ government” did not match the ground reality. In contrast, he said the situation presented a different picture.
He warned that the BRS would launch protests if authorities failed to begin procurement immediately. He added that delays were increasing farmers’ hardship. He also expressed confidence that the BRS would return to power within two years and ensure timely procurement.
