The harvest of paddy in rabi crop will start in the first week of next month but farmers were in a dilemma over disposal of their produce as the Centre has refused to procure the crop due to lack of demand in the country.
The State government which has mounted pressure on the Centre to buy the produce had declared that it will take a view on future course of action after Ugadi on April 2.
Sources said about 70 lakh tonnes of paddy was likely to reach market yards after April as the crop was grown over 35 lakh acres despite the State government putting farmers on notice that it will not open procurement centres. On the other hand, 93 lakh tonnes was sold from cultivation over 53 lakh acres in the same season last year. In normal circumstances, arrangements for procurement of paddy in rabi start by March and the transactions at minimum support price actually start in April second week. But, this time nothing of the sort was visible.
