Telangana Seeks Higher Central Rice Buys and Delivery Extensions After Output Surge

Overview

• Telangana’s civil supplies minister, who wrote to Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday, asked the Centre to realign procurement under the scheme where states buy paddy to ensure the minimum support price and the Centre later lifts rice.
• The state sought reallocation of 5 lakh metric tonnes of boiled rice by cutting the Food Corporation of India’s raw rice quota and a 60‑day extension for Rabi 2024–25 deliveries with 8.45 LMT still pending after the February 28 deadline.
• He requested a 20 LMT increase in the boiled rice procurement target for the 2025–26 Kharif Marketing Season so purchases match the state’s higher output.
• The letter also asked for an extra two months to complete Rabi 2024–25 deliveries, citing pending physical checks of Kharif stocks and the time needed for processing.
• The minister warned that storage, milling, and interest costs are rising as data in his letter showed boiled rice deliveries to the FCI fell to 66.78% in 2024–25 despite ongoing procurement.