Telangana CM Orders Comprehensive Action Plan for Seed Supply, Crop Procurement
Hyderabad, June 16 (TNT): Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday directed officials to prepare and implement a comprehensive action plan for seed distribution and crop procurement during the upcoming agricultural season.
The Chief Minister stressed transparency, technology adoption and farmer-centric service delivery.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Agriculture Department at the MCRHRD Bodhi Pavilion here, the Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure a complete understanding of farmer registrations, crop cultivation patterns, yield estimation and paddy procurement to facilitate smooth agricultural operations.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and D. Sridhar Babu and senior officials.
During the review, the Chief Minister, ministers and officials discussed previous procurement experiences, measures to avoid inconvenience to farmers and recommendations made by the State Farmers’ Commission, agricultural experts and the Agricultural University.
To ensure smooth procurement operations, Revanth Reddy ordered the immediate constitution of a high-level committee under the Agriculture Department Secretary. The Director of Agriculture, Managing Director of Civil Supplies and Secretary of the Planning Department will serve as members.
The committee will monitor the entire agricultural cycle, including seed distribution, crop sowing, farmer registration, crop data collection, yield estimation and procurement.
It will also oversee field-level implementation of modern technologies and ensure accurate recording of crop cultivation details on every acre.
The Chief Minister directed officials to take all necessary steps to procure agricultural produce in accordance with the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement quotas prescribed by the Centre.
He also called for advance planning to address challenges such as unseasonal rains, transportation, weighing, storage and marketing during the procurement season.
Following the state’s announcement of a bonus for fine-variety paddy, Revanth Reddy instructed officials to ensure adequate availability of seven identified fine-paddy seed varieties.
He directed that these seeds be supplied to farmers at subsidised rates and made available through ‘Rythu Vedika’ centres across the state.
The Chief Minister said ‘Rythu Vedika’ should be transformed into a comprehensive farmer service centre. Farmers will be able to register their details and obtain seeds and fertilisers through these platforms.
Officials from the Agriculture, Revenue and Police departments will be deployed at every Rythu Vedika, while Additional Collectors will oversee their functioning at the district level.
Emphasising the use of technology in agriculture, Revanth Reddy directed the department to leverage artificial intelligence and digital systems across the agricultural value chain, from seed distribution to procurement.
The Agriculture Department, Civil Supplies Department and Agricultural University were instructed to work in coordination for technology integration.
The meeting also reviewed the results of an AI-based pilot project being implemented in Dammapeta mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, with officials examining the possibility of expanding the initiative if found beneficial to farmers.
To improve transparency and efficiency in fertiliser distribution, the Chief Minister directed officials to introduce an app-based booking system for fertilisers.
Under the proposed mechanism, farmers will be able to book urea through a mobile application and collect it from Rythu Vedika centres. Additional District Collectors will supervise urea distribution.
Expressing concern over fertiliser availability for the upcoming Kharif season, Revanth Reddy asked Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao to regularly take up the issue of urea and fertiliser allocations with the Centre.
He said the state government should continuously press for adequate fertiliser supplies and seek allocation of fertilisers produced at the Ramagundam Fertilizer Plant to Telangana.
The Chief Minister also suggested that Members of Parliament from all parties brief the Union government on the state’s fertiliser requirements and, if necessary, lead a delegation of ministers and MPs to New Delhi to press the demand.
Reviewing the performance of state cooperative agencies, Revanth Reddy instructed officials to reduce losses incurred by MARKFED.
He noted that the government had significantly reduced losses in maize procurement by securing a tender rate exceeding ₹21,000 per tonne compared to around ₹13,000 per tonne earlier.
He also directed officials to strengthen OILFED and improve its financial performance, while emphasising the need to strengthen the state-run dairy sector and ensure timely payments to dairy farmers.
TNT TS
