Amaravati, December 08, 2025: Paddy procurement in Andhra Pradesh has stalled, leaving farmers at the mercy of middlemen who buy below the Rs 1,800 MSP per quintal.
Village centress push cultivators toward traders, sparking distress sales at Rs 1,400-1,500 per 75-kg bag. Cyclone Montha's rains triggered fungal spoilage, slashing yields to 20 bags per acre in Krishna district spots like Kanumuru.
Millers reject discoloured lots, hoarding to resell high, while farmers hand back chunks of credited MSP funds up to Rs 14,000 from Rs 64,000 deals. Officials tout 15.39 lakh tonnes bought from 2.36 lakh ryots, with Rs 3,650 crore disbursed swiftly, yet ground reports scream foul on quality norms and delays.
