
Focus shifts to Centre’s rigid stand in lifting stocks
The Hindu
Govt. plans to open 6,400 procurement centres
As the debate over procurement of paddy by the Centre in the ensuing rabi raged and political parties, including the ruling TRS, geared up to launch protests, the focus has shifted to the rigid stand of the Centre in lifting the stocks.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) of the Central government had a month ago communicated to the State government that it will not purchase paddy from Telangana any more owing to surplus parboiled rice in the country and limited consumption. The department advised the State government to encourage farmers for crop diversification by incentivising sowing of other crops.
To repeated requests by Telangana to buy the paddy produced in rabi of 2020-21, the Centre had given one time approval for delivery of 20 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice to Food Corporation of India in addition to already approved 24.75 lakh tonnes in the season.

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