Hyderabad, June 16 (RAHNUMA): Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed the officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan and implement the same effectively in the supply of seeds to the farmers and also the procurement of harvested crops in the ensuing farming season.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the Agriculture department should adopt a transparent mechanism and maintain a complete understanding of registration of farmers details , estimation of crop yielding and Paddy procurement.
Revanth Reddy held a review of the Agriculture department at the MCRHRD Bodhi Pavilion on Tuesday.
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and D Sridhar Babu, Rajya Sabha Member Vem Narendar Reddy, Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao, CMO Principal Secretary Seshadri, Agriculture Secretary Surendra Mohan, Civil Supplies Commissioner Stephen Ravindra, Agriculture director Gopi, Planning Secretary Gaurav Uppal, and other senior officials participated in the review.
During the meeting, Revanth Reddy, Ministers and officials discussed past experiences in the procurement, measures to ensure farmers do not face difficulties, suggestions of the State Farmers’ Commission, Agricultural University, and Agricultural experts.
The Chief Minister ordered the immediate formation of a high-level committee to ensure smooth procurement operations starting from the upcoming season, preventing any inconvenience to farmers. State Secretary to Agriculture department will oversee the functioning of the official committee. Director of Agriculture, Managing Director of Civil Supplies, and the Secretary of the Planning Department will be the members of the committee, he said.
The committee was entrusted with the responsibility of continuous monitoring of seed distribution, sowing of crops to the registration of farmer details, recording of crop information, estimation of produce, and the final procurement process. In addition to field-level supervision, the committee will facilitate the adoption of modern technology required for the entire farming activity at the ground level. The officials were also instructed to record the details of cultivation of crops in every acre through precise field-level verification.
Revanth Reddy directed officials to take all necessary measures to ensure the smooth procurement of agricultural produce adhering to Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and quotas prescribed by the Central Government. The Chief Minister stressed that an advanced action plan should be prepared to address issues such as unseasonal rains, weighing, transportation, storage, and marketing during the procurement period.
Following the announcement of bonus for fine variety paddy, Revanth Reddy ordered that seven specific varieties of fine variety paddy seeds should be made available adequately. The officials were directed that these seeds should be supplied to farmers at a subsidised rate and also ensure their availability at ‘Rythu Vedika’ (Farmers’ Platforms). A comprehensive data on cultivation of fine variety paddy should be collected regularly, he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that ‘Rythu Vedika’ should henceforth be developed into the center of benefitting farmers. He directed that arrangements be made to enable farmers to register their details and purchase seeds and fertilizers at the Vedika. An official each from the Revenue and Police departments, in addition to the Agriculture department, will be deployed at every Rythu Vedika. The responsibility for managing and supervising these centers in the districts was entrusted to the Additional Collectors, he said.
Revanth Reddy also directed the Agriculture department to leverage the technology mainly utilisation of AI-based systems. The integration of technology across the entire agricultural ecosystem—from seed supply to procurement—with the Agricultural University serving as the nodal agency was also discussed.
The Agriculture department, Civil Supplies and the Agricultural University were ordered to work in coordination. A study of the results from the AI pilot project launched in the Dammapeta mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district and expanding its use if it proves beneficial to farmers was reviewed.
To enhance transparency and speed in fertilizer distribution, the Chief Minister directed the implementation of a system allowing all types of fertilizers to be booked via an app. The farmers should book urea through the app and distributed via ‘Rythu Vedika’. The responsibility of urea distribution was assigned to the Additional District Collectors, Revanth Reddy said.
The Chief Minister advised Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao to regularly write to the Centre regarding the allocation of urea and other fertilizers required for the Kharif season.
He asserted that the state government should exert pressure on the Centre to ensure that fertilizers produced at the Ramagundam fertilizer plant are allocated to Telangana. The MPs from all parties should explain the ground reality regarding the fertilizer situation in the state to the union government. If necessary, a delegation of Ministers and MPs should visit Delhi to make a formal appeal to the Centre.
Revanth Reddy also instructed the officials to reduce the losses incurred by MARKFED. The government managed to minimise losses associated with maize procurement by acting strategically and refusing to yield to traders. Maize was previously sold at ₹13,000 per tonne and the tender rate secured this time exceeded ₹21,000. The Chief Minister directed officials to further strengthen OIL FED and steer it towards profitability. He also emphasised the need to strengthen the government dairy and instructed that payments to dairy farmers be made on time.
