Rice pre-booking to lock prices; Telangana farmers get ₹3,000-₹3,500 per quintal in open markets

In Telangana, farmers are choosing to sell their paddy harvest in open markets rather than waiting for government procurement centers (PPCs). This decision is due to higher prices in open markets, ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹3,500 per quintal for fresh fine rice, compared to the current Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,450 and a ₹500 bonus.

Additionally, many farmers are receiving pre-booking orders from individuals who want to secure a fixed price and protect themselves from potential price hikes. The shortage of local hamalis (daily wage laborers) at PPCs has forced authorities to hire migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. With the government estimating a rice buffer of 28.03 lakh metric tonnes to meet the state's requirements for 11.7 months, the shift to open market sales could result in lower quantities of food grains reaching the state's food security programs.