Telangana Seeks Central Intervention Over MSP Procurement and Farm Policies
Telangana is facing severe financial strain due to unprocured Rabi produce. Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has urged the Centre to honor MSP procurement commitments, citing a 6,000 crore loss for Markfed and the need for state-level seed regulation reforms.
The Telangana state government is expressing growing frustration regarding agricultural procurement policies, arguing that the region is unfairly penalized for adhering to Central Minimum Support Price (MSP) guidelines. With state warehouses currently at capacity following the Rabi season, state officials are calling for immediate intervention from the central authorities to manage the surplus effectively.
Addressing Procurement Challenges and MSP Compliance
State Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao recently emphasized during a press briefing that Telangana has consistently followed the central directives designed to ensure that farmers receive fair MSP compensation for their produce. Despite these efforts, the state claims that the central government has failed to meet its obligations to purchase these crops. The minister highlighted that the center has committed to procuring only 25 percent of the state's total harvest for pulses and sunflower, leaving a significant portion of the produce unmanaged.
The state has formally requested an increase in these procurement quotas, specifically seeking a 15 percent hike for crops like bengal gram and sunflower, but officials report that these requests remain unaddressed. Tummala Nageswara Rao questioned the rationale behind the center announcing MSP standards if they are unwilling to shoulder the responsibility of purchasing the resulting output from the state. He noted that these procurement difficulties have placed a severe financial burden on the state agency Markfed, which has accumulated losses reaching approximately 6,000 crore since the state's formation.
Proposed Legislative Changes for Seed Regulation
Beyond procurement, the state is also navigating complex jurisdictional issues regarding seed regulation. While the center currently maintains primary authority over seed-related policies, Telangana is moving forward with plans to draft its own Seeds Act. This initiative is designed to address the urgent need for local accountability when farmers face losses due to the distribution of spurious seeds.
Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao indicated that the state intends to present this draft to the central authorities, seeking both approval and formal presidential assent to ensure its implementation. The government’s stance remains firm: if necessary, a ministerial delegation will travel to Delhi to engage directly with central leadership to demand a more equitable approach to both MSP procurement and local agricultural regulatory rights. The state government maintains that it has repeatedly flagged these pressing issues to the Prime Minister and relevant central ministers, yet continues to await a meaningful response to rectify the ongoing logistical and financial challenges.
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