Delay in the setting up of IKP (Indira Kranthi Patham) paddy procurement centres coupled with the recent unseasonal rain has become a cause of concern for the farming community.
Paddy harvesting started on a low note last fortnight and only 15% of the crop has been harvested so far. As per agricultural records, paddy was cultivated on over 44,000 hectares in the district. However, the yield is likely to come down as paddy crops withered due to prevailing dry weather conditions and non-availability of irrigation sources.
Freshly, the unseasonal rain followed by hailstorm damaged the standing crops in various parts of the district. Besides, some of the paddy brought to the procurement centres was also ruined in the showers due to lack of tarpaulin sheets to protect them.
Election caused delay
The delay in opening paddy procurement centres has been attributed to the election season. The District Rural Development Office (DRDO) had decided to set up 66 IKP procurement centres, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) would set up over 100 centres and District Cooperative Marketing Society (DCMS) would open another nine. However, farmers complain that the centres are yet to be opened.
Rythu Ikya Vedika district president Muduganti Venkat Reddy, a farmer from Challur village of Veenavanka mandal, said the State government was not purchasing paddy from farmers in spite of getting the produce to the centres.
“Now, the paddy has been damaged in the rain as adequate tarpaulin sheets were not provided,” he said.
Mr. Reddy demanded that the government procure the paddy urgently in the wake of unseasonal rain and make payments to farmers through bank accounts within 24 hours.
Arrivals yet to pick up
DRDO Venkateshwar Rao said so far they have opened 66 IKP procurement centres and purchased 8,023 quintals of paddy worth ₹1.42 crore from 117 farmers. He said the paddy arrivals are yet to pick up and they were expecting it to increase following unseasonal rains. He also claimed that adequate tarpaulin sheets were provided to protect the produce at the procurement centres.
