SIDDIPET (TELANGANA), NOV 3 : Former Minister and BRS leader T Harish Rao strongly criticised the Telangana government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, for its failure to provide adequate support and minimum support prices for farmers’ crops.

Speaking to the media during a visit to a government-run paddy procurement center in Baddipadaga Village, Nangunur Mandal, on Sunday, Harish Rao expressed disappointment over the government’s handling of paddy procurement and its impact on farmers.

Harish Rao recalled that during former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s (KCR’s) regime, paddy procurement was seamless, with bags delivered to mills before paddy arrived, partnerships established with mills, and transport arranged efficiently. “Under Revanth Reddy’s leadership, however, even after a month, paddy procurement has yet to start,” he said.

He highlighted that, due to delays, farmers are facing significant losses, with monkeys and other animals damaging their rice. Farmers have been left waiting at procurement centres, with no one addressing their grievances. “Revanth Reddy appealed for farmers’ support during elections, but now he has failed to secure even a Minimum Support Price for paddy,” Rao added.

In districts like Jagityala, Mahbubabad, Suryapet, and Rajanna Sircilla, farmers are staging protests on roads, demanding the support they were promised. “The Chief Minister has thrown farmers onto the streets,” he said, questioning why Revanth Reddy, who was active during election season, is now ignoring the plight of the farmers at procurement centers.

Rao also criticized the government for failing to establish adequate buying centers for cotton and paddy, with cotton being sold at lower prices due to the absence of support prices and procurement facilities. “Farmers are forced to sell cotton, which should be priced at Rs 7,521 per quintal, for as low as Rs 5,000,” he said.

He further accused Revanth Reddy of neglecting the loan waivers promised to farmers, pointing out that while KCR deposited Rythu Bandhu funds into farmers’ accounts even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the current government has yet to deliver on its financial commitments. “Even basic provisions like gunny bags and tarpaulin covers are not being provided to farmers,” Rao added.

Rao noted that in Siddipet district alone, 9 lakh metric tons of paddy have been harvested from 3.60 lakh acres, yet authorities have not procured even a thousand metric tons.

He urged the Chief Minister and other Ministers to leave Hyderabad, visit the procurement centers, and provide the promised support to farmers.

Demanding that the government offer a support price and a Rs 500 bonus for paddy, Rao warned that if these issues are not addressed promptly, the BRS will initiate protests to pressurise the government to act in favour of farmers.