Telangana Chief Minister, A. Revanth Reddy, met Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, requesting the procurement of 30 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice from Telangana during the Rabi season. He also urged the release of outstanding dues amounting to ₹1,468.94 crore from the 2014-15 Kharif season. Accompanied by State Civil Supplies Minister, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Chief Minister submitted a memorandum during the meeting in New Delhi.
They highlighted that the paddy harvested in the Rabi season is suitable for milling into boiled rice, emphasizing the need to increase boiled rice supply due to rising demand nationwide. Telangana is expected to produce 90 lakh tonnes of paddy during the current Rabi season, with Chief Minister Reddy stating readiness to supply 30 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice and 5 lakh tonnes of raw rice from the Yasangi harvest. Union Minister Joshi approved the proposal for boiled rice supply.
Additionally, the Chief Minister urged the immediate release of the outstanding dues and emphasized Telangana’s efficient system of depositing money into farmers’ accounts within 48 hours of paddy procurement. He also requested the Union Minister to expedite the release of pending arrears to address financial challenges faced by the state Civil Supplies Department. CM Reddy also called for the resumption of Fortified Rice Kernels distribution to combat anemia and nutritional deficiencies among children, a scheme recently halted.
