Telangana Pushes for Central Approval on Boiled Rice Procurement

In a significant move to boost Telangana's agricultural exports, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy have made an appeal to Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, seeking approval to procure 30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of boiled rice from the state during the upcoming Yasangi or Rabi season.

The Telangana leaders met with the union minister on Friday in Delhi, emphasizing the suitability of the state's rabi-harvested paddy for milling into boiled rice. They highlighted the growing national demand for boiled rice and presented statistical data showcasing the state's consistent supply of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) over the last six Yasangi seasons.

In response, Minister Pralhad Joshi approved the proposal in principle and was urged by the Telangana officials to expedite the release of overdue payments amounting to Rs 1,468.94 crore for past procurements. The meeting underscored the state’s leading role in paddy production and addressed financial challenges faced by Telangana's Civil Supplies Department.