Farmers in Telangana’s Sircilla district staged a road blockade protest on Tuesday, April 22, expressing growing frustration over the government’s inaction on paddy procurement. The agitating farmers alleged that the IKP (Indira Kranti Patham) centers, designated for crop procurement, have not accepted their paddy harvest for over a month. Despite repeated appeals to district officials, including the tehsildar and collector, the farmers say no steps have been taken to resolve the issue. Many of them now have over 200 bags of harvested paddy lying idle, vulnerable to spoilage, as procurement centers remain unresponsive.

In addition to the stalled procurement process, the farmers highlighted the lack of a reliable transport system, which they say has made the situation worse. With no logistical support, moving the harvested grain to storage or markets has become nearly impossible. The frustration among farmers reflects a broader concern across Telangana, where similar complaints have been raised in recent months. Back in November 2024, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had directed special IAS officers to monitor and streamline the paddy procurement process, but on-ground implementation appears to have fallen short of expectations.

Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy had previously assured farmers of government support, including a ₹500 per quintal bonus for fine rice in addition to the minimum support price. He also celebrated a record paddy production of 150 lakh metric tons in the state. However, despite these claims, farmers on the ground continue to suffer due to administrative bottlenecks and lack of proper procurement channels. As the standoff in Sircilla intensifies, farmers are demanding urgent government action to safeguard their livelihoods and prevent further losses.