Telangana: Maize Procurement Begins as Government Announces Support Price for Farmers

• Telangana maize procurement begins with support price of 2400 per quintal.
• Telangana maize procurement launched across multiple districts and centers.
• Telangana maize procurement aims to support farmers amid low market rates.

The Telangana government has initiated maize procurement across the state, offering a support price of 2400 per quintal to protect farmers from falling market rates. The move comes at a time when traders are reportedly purchasing maize at significantly lower prices.

Procurement operations have been rolled out through multiple centers in several districts, with authorities aiming to ensure that farmers receive fair compensation for their produce. Officials said the process has started immediately to handle the large stock available in markets.

This year, maize cultivation has reached record levels, covering over eleven lakh acres across the state. As a result, production is expected to touch nearly thirty lakh tonnes, creating a situation where immediate procurement support became necessary.

To address the surplus, the state government also approached the central government seeking procurement assistance. In response, the Centre agreed to purchase a limited quantity at the declared support price, providing some relief to farmers.

Despite this, concerns remain as private traders continue to offer prices well below the support rate. Farmers have expressed worry over selling their produce at lower rates if procurement limits are exceeded.

Authorities have emphasized that the procurement drive is aimed at stabilizing prices and preventing distress sales. Further decisions may be taken depending on the volume of produce and market conditions.

With procurement centers now active, farmers are expected to benefit from better price assurance, though close monitoring will be required to ensure that all producers receive fair support.