Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar was addressing the media in Vijayawada on Tuesday. Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director S. Dilli Rao is seen.
The Andhra Pradesh government has stepped up paddy procurement across the state and has so far purchased 2,36,284 tonnes from 32,793 farmers this season.
On Tuesday, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar said that ₹560.48 crore has already been credited directly to farmers’ bank accounts, with payments now being made within 24 hours, a national record.
“Purchases this year have increased by 30% compared to the same period last year when 1,81,885 tonnes were purchased. The number of farmers selling paddy rice soup has increased by 36%, with the majority being small and marginal farmers, including nearly 6,600 tenants who have benefited from the scheme,” the minister said.
Mr. Manohar said nearly 16,000 field staff along with District Collectors and Joint Collectors are strictly monitoring procurement to ensure transparency and smooth operations. The government provided 6.34 million gunnysacks and equipped each vehicle with GPS for real-time tracking.
Around 50,000 tarpaulins have been made available at Rythu assistance centers to help farmers during the low pressure rains forecast on November 23 and 24, of which 19,000 have already been distributed.
WhatsApp based scheduling
“Andhra Pradesh has also introduced a first-of-its-kind WhatsApp-based scheduling system that allows farmers to choose the time, date and mill to sell their produce. Nearly 500 farmers have used the service so far,” he said.
The government was preparing to buy a record 51 million tonnes this season, including fine paddy rice for mid-day meals, to ensure high-quality rice for school children, the minister added.
Civil Supplies Corporation Vice Chairman and Managing Director S. Delhi Rao was present.
Published – 18 Nov 2025 19:18 IST
