Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, who also serves as BJP Telangana state president, on Saturday, 30 May 2026, sharply attacked the Telangana state government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing it of failing farmers by not fully utilising the Centre's approved paddy procurement quota for the current agricultural year.

Posting in Telugu on X, Kishan Reddy stated: 'ఇవాళ రేవంత్ రెడ్డి చేతగానితనం వల్ల రైతులు తీవ్రంగా నష్టపోతున్నారు' ('Today, farmers are suffering severe losses due to Revanth Reddy's incompetence'). He alleged that while the Central government had agreed to procure approximately 53 lakh metric tonnes of paddy combined across the Kharif and Rabi seasons this year, the state government had failed to conduct purchases at full scale — and must answer for that failure.

Context

Telangana is one of India's most productive paddy-growing states, and paddy procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism is politically and economically vital for its farming communities. The state's farmers depend heavily on timely government procurement to avoid distress sales in open markets at prices below the MSP. Any shortfall in procurement directly translates into income losses for cultivators.

The minister's post comes amid an ongoing political contest between the BJP and the ruling Congress government in Hyderabad over the state's agricultural governance record since Chief Minister Revanth Reddy assumed office in December 2023.

Policy Backdrop

Under India's Decentralised Procurement Scheme, introduced in 1997-98, state governments procure paddy and wheat on behalf of the Centre for the central pool, with the Centre reimbursing costs. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) sets seasonal targets in consultation with states, and states are responsible for deploying procurement machinery — including purchase centres, logistics, and payments to farmers.

Kishan Reddy argued that since the Centre had already sanctioned a quota of roughly 53 lakh metric tonnes for the combined Kharif and Rabi 2026 seasons, the responsibility for the procurement shortfall rests squarely with the Telangana state government. He added that attempts were being made to 'shift the state government's failures onto the Centre.'

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary stakeholders are Telangana's paddy farmers, who risk being forced to sell their produce below the MSP if state procurement centres are not operational or adequately staffed. A gap between the Centre-approved quota and actual procurement on the ground leaves surplus paddy without a guaranteed buyer, depressing farm-gate prices.

The Congress-led state government has not yet issued a public response to the minister's specific claims. Centre-state disputes over procurement implementation are a recurring pattern across multiple states during both Kharif and Rabi seasons, with the Centre typically pointing to state-level administrative lapses and state governments citing logistical constraints or insufficient central support.

What's Next

Official procurement progress data for Telangana's Kharif and Rabi 2026 seasons from the Food Corporation of India and the state's civil supplies department will be closely watched to determine the actual extent of any shortfall against the sanctioned quota. Parliamentary and assembly questions on the procurement gap are likely to follow, with the issue expected to remain a flashpoint between the BJP and Congress ahead of any future electoral cycle in the state.