The Journalist Post
Dateline: New Delhi/Hyderabad | July 8, 2026
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Wednesday alleged that the Telangana government had failed to efficiently procure paddy despite receiving full support and financial assistance from the Central Government. He said the Centre had granted permission for the procurement of 53 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in Telangana, but the state government failed to complete the procurement process, causing hardship to farmers across the state.
Speaking after leading a delegation of Telangana BJP MPs, MLAs and MLCs to meet Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, Kishan Reddy said farmers were forced to take to the streets due to delays and mismanagement in paddy procurement. He claimed that the state government acted only after BJP public representatives launched protests demanding immediate intervention.
The Union Minister said that under the procurement system, the responsibility of the state government extends beyond purchasing paddy. It is also responsible for milling the paddy into rice and delivering it to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He noted that the Central Government provides financial assistance to cover procurement, milling, transportation and related expenses, leaving no justification for delays.
Kishan Reddy pointed out that Telangana continues to face serious deficiencies in procurement infrastructure, including shortages of gunny bags, inadequate warehouse capacity and insufficient rice milling facilities. He said successive state governments had failed to create the necessary infrastructure, instead choosing to blame the Centre for procurement-related issues.
Highlighting procurement figures, he stated that during the 2024–25 Kharif season, Telangana was required to deliver 36 lakh metric tonnes of rice to the FCI, but less than 13 percent of the target had been achieved so far. Similar delays, he said, were witnessed during the 2024–25 Rabi season. For the 2025–26 Kharif season, around 45 percent of the rice is yet to reach the FCI, while nearly 90 percent of the rice from the 2025–26 Rabi season also remains pending.
The Union Minister alleged that both the previous BRS government and the current Congress government had failed to strengthen procurement infrastructure and instead resorted to political accusations against the Central Government. He said that over the past 12 years, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) had extended loans worth ₹1.16 lakh crore to Telangana for grain procurement. For the 2025–26 procurement season, he said the Centre had sanctioned ₹37,000 crore through the NCDC, of which ₹22,700 crore has already been released.
Kishan Reddy maintained that the Central Government has consistently supported Telangana farmers by providing financial assistance and policy support. He criticised BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) for announcing protests in Delhi over farmers’ issues, alleging that both the Congress and BRS were making misleading statements. He said that if both parties stage a joint protest, the BJP would expose the facts regarding procurement and financial assistance provided by the Centre.
He further stated that irrespective of which political party governs a state, the Union Government allocates funds fairly and sincerely. However, he stressed that developing procurement centres, warehouses and rice milling infrastructure remains the responsibility of the state government. Instead of strengthening these systems, he alleged, the Telangana government was indulging in unnecessary political blame games.
The Union Minister also stated that the Central Government bears 70 percent of the cost for every kilogram of fine rice distributed under the state’s public distribution system, adding that Telangana’s fine rice scheme is sustained largely through Central financial support. He urged the state government to improve procurement infrastructure and ensure timely procurement, milling and delivery of rice to safeguard farmers’ interests.
