Civil Supplies, Agriculture departments review Kharif procurement, plan Rabi roadmap

Hyderabad: The Civil Supplies Department held a review meeting with the Agriculture Department on Thursday to assess Kharif procurement for the 2025–26 season and finalise the roadmap for the upcoming Rabi season.

Officials said the department had procured 71.90 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the Kharif season. So far, it has cleared 97.08 per cent of farmer dues and released ₹18,568 crore. This amount included ₹1,425 crore paid towards the bonus component.

During the meeting, officials encouraged farmers to cultivate fine paddy varieties with strong market demand. These included Telangana Sona (RNR-15048), HMT, and Jaisreeram. At the same time, the department cautioned farmers against varieties such as MTU 1153 and KNM 733, citing milling-related issues.

The departments also issued an advisory for the Rabi season. They advised farmers to complete sowing early to ensure harvesting before peak summer temperatures. According to officials, early sowing helps prevent grain loss and improves overall yield quality.

Infrastructure planning aligned with Kharif procurement experience

Officials said the department was planning infrastructure requirements well in advance for the Rabi season. As part of this effort, it is prioritising the upgrade of manual paddy cleaners to automatic paddy cleaners at procurement centres. This move aims to speed up operations and reduce delays.

In addition, the department said it was stocking essential items such as tarpaulins and moisture meters to meet seasonal requirements. These measures, officials said, would help ensure smooth procurement operations.

The meeting also reviewed the impact of the Montha cyclone. Officials said the department had accorded priority to the immediate repair and restoration of godowns in Husnabad. They said the repairs were necessary to safeguard storage capacity and support uninterrupted procurement.