Telangana farmers hit by grain procurement delays and heavy rains

Farmers in Telangana are facing severe distress as delayed procurement of Kharif crops, especially the Yasangi paddy, has left grain awaiting purchase while unexpected heavy rains have flooded storage centres. Reports indicate that about 40% of procurement centres still have unweighed grain, and recent downpours have soaked thousands of bags, causing loss of harvests and escalating concerns among cultivators.

In response, the state agriculture department announced a set of preparedness measures against El Niño‑related monsoon uncertainties. A WhatsApp‑based weather advisory service now delivers localized forecasts to roughly 28 lakh farmers across 18 districts. The department also distributed 87.49 lakh quintals of seeds for non‑paddy crops such as pulses, millets and oilseeds, and upgraded a fertilizer‑booking app to help farmers secure inputs.

These combined developments highlight both the immediate agricultural hardships caused by procurement delays and rain, and the government’s efforts to mitigate further losses through technology and crop diversification.