Telangana Being Punished for Following MSP Rules: Tummala

Hyderabad: With its godowns virtually abuzz with the produce of the Rabi season and some jowar purchases still ongoing, Telangana has urged the Center to put its money where its mouth is and procure all crops procured by the state government from the state by paying the relevant minimum support prices (MSP).

Addressing a press conference, agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao said the state was “punished” for following Central guidelines to ensure farmers get MSP by purchasing their produce. “The Center is responsible for purchasing MSP-paid crops from the government. On top of that, it said it will only take 25 per cent of our purchases of pulses, sunflowers and other crops. For example, regarding sunflower and bengal gram, we asked for the purchase to be increased by another 15 per cent but there was no response,” said Nageswara Rao.

“If you don’t want to buy products from the state at MSP where Telangana is the state that has to follow the rules, stop announcing MSPs. Why is the Center imposing its responsibility on the state? Why are we being punished for following Central guidelines,” asked Nageswara Rao.

The Minister said that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, he and other ministers had repeatedly brought these issues to the notice of the Prime Minister and other Central ministers dealing with these issues but there was no response. “If necessary, a ministerial delegation from Telangana will go to Delhi again and meet the ministers concerned and inform them about the need for the Center to take action,” he said.

Nageswara Rao said that due to the Centre’s procurement policies, Markfed in Telangana has accumulated losses of around 6,000 crore since the formation of the state.

The Minister also said that Telangana is planning its own Seed Act, but the Center retains the power to regulate and act on all matters related to seeds. “The government cannot take any action if a farmer loses out due to fake seeds. Our plan is to draft our own law and seek the Centre’s approval and the President’s approval to implement it,” he said.