Andhra Pradesh's Civil Supplies Minister, N Manohar, has announced a massive procurement target for the 2025-26 Kharif season: 51 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy. This figure represents a monumental jump from the 23.4 LMT procured during the previous year.
Highlighting the new NDA coalition's commitment to farmers, Manohar confirmed that $\text{Rs. 763 crore}$ in pending payments has been cleared, tackling a legacy debt from the previous administration that reportedly surpassed $\text{Rs. 1,500 crore}$.
Set to begin on October 27, the procurement drive will introduce comprehensive streamlining measures:
- Digital Access: Farmers gain the convenience of registering for sales through WhatsApp.
- Swift Payments: The state promises payment for purchased grain will be credited in just 48 hours.
- Operational Modernization: The entire procurement workflow is shifting to an almost completely paperless model.
- Financial Assurance: Stability will be provided through bank guarantees arranged on a 1:2 basis with the participation of 35 banks.
In parallel with these reforms, Minister Manohar urged rice millers to join the fight against the illicit transportation of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice. The logistical effort supporting the $\text{51 LMT}$ goal will involve deploying over 3,000 Rythu Seva Kendras, nearly 2,000 Primary Procurement Centres, and approximately 10,000 staff.
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