Hyderabad
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday directed officials to take strict action against traders who are allegedly cheating farmers during the paddy procurement process. This came after reports of rice millers causing trouble for farmers across the state.
In response to these reports, the Chief Minister instructed that the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) be invoked if necessary. He emphasized that farmers should not be cheated, misled, or harassed while selling their produce. He urged district collectors to ensure the smooth procurement of paddy and resolve any issues immediately by contacting higher authorities.
The government’s action followed protests by farmers who claimed that rice millers were forcing them to sell their produce at prices below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Farmers in Nalgonda district, for example, staged a protest by blocking a highway, demanding that paddy be purchased at the MSP of Rs 2,320 per quintal. However, millers were offering only Rs 2,100 to Rs 2,200 per quintal for high-quality rice varieties.
Farmers also alleged that millers had formed a syndicate to exploit them, rejecting paddy stocks at procurement centres under the pretext of high moisture content. Senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader T. Harish Rao criticized the state government for failing to ensure timely procurement, leaving farmers to sell their paddy at much lower prices.
