Here is a third, concise summary that conveys all the core information:
Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister N Manohar announced a major goal for the 2025-26 Kharif season: to procure 51 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. This is a substantial increase from the 23.4 lakh metric tonnes procured the previous year.
Khet Vikas
The Minister highlighted that the new NDA government has cleared Rs. 763 crore in pending dues, part of an alleged backlog of over Rs. 1,500 crore left by the former YSRCP administration. Manohar committed to ensuring timely payments for farmers and continuous support for rice millers.
Key reforms to streamline procurement include:
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WhatsApp registration for farmers.
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48-hour payment window for purchased grain.
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A move toward a largely paperless system.
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Securing bank guarantees (1:2 basis) through 35 banks.
Manohar also called for unified action, involving rice millers, to stop the smuggling of PDS rice. The procurement process is slated to begin on October 27, utilizing over 3,000 Rythu Seva Kendras, nearly 2,000 Primary Procurement Centres, and about 10,000 staff.
