Hans News Service Khammam

Allegingirregularities in maize procurement and harassment of farmers, BJP district president Nelluri Koteswara Rao on Thursday demanded that the government immediately set up procurement centres and purchase the produce without imposing any conditions.

After visiting maize fields in Konijerla and Wyra mandals of Khammam district on Thursday, Rao said farmers, who toiled for months to raise the crop, were being forced to wait on roads to sell their produce due to the government’s “indifferent attitude”.

He claimed that despite good yields this season, farmers were unable to get remunerative prices, with maize currently fetching only Rs 1,700–1,800 per quintal in the open market, which is insufficient to cover input costs.

Rao alleged that officials of Markfed were rejecting produce citing fungus and grain quality issues, thereby delaying procurement. “Even where the crop quality is reasonably good, officials are raising objections and creating hurdles instead of facilitating procurement,” he said, urging market authorities to intervene and prevent harassment of farmers in the name of quality checks.

“Unseasonal rains and gusty winds have further compounded farmers’ distress,” he said, adding that harvested maize kept in fields was getting soaked, leading to discolouration and deterioration in quality. “As a result, traders were either refusing to buy the produce or offering distress prices,” he added.

“The delay in opening procurement centres has pushed farmers into a crisis, forcing them to sell their produce at throwaway prices,” Rao said, warning that the situation could drive farmers to extreme distress. He demanded that the district Collector take immediate action against erring officials and ensure procurement on a war footing. The BJP leader also warned of large-scale protests if procurement centres are not opened without delay.

Rao urged the government to change its “rigid stance” and procure even rain-affected maize at the minimum support price to safeguard farmers’ interests. Several BJP leaders, including Mandadapu Subba Rao, Bandaru Naresh, Kavida Muralikrishna, Yasa Satyanarayana and Kavida Rambabu, accompanied him during the visit.