Adilabad: Adilabad district authorities are exploring hiring storage facilities in Maharashtra due to an acute shortage of space for jowar stocks, delaying procurement from farmers. Officials said existing godowns in the district are full with previous stocks, prompting efforts to identify storage options outside the state. A team, including officials from Markfed and the district administration, has been deputed to locate godowns in Maharashtra and assess private storage facilities.
The Centre has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) for jowar (hybrid) at Rs 3,699 per quintal this season, up from Rs 3,371 last year.
Procurement has been delayed as storage space remains unavailable. Farmers said they are facing difficulties in safeguarding produce from unseasonal rains.
Farmer N. Sudarshan from Kapparla said yields have improved this season, with an average of 10 quintals per acre, compared to lower output over the past two years. He said the delay in procurement has left farmers struggling to protect their stocks from damage.
Adilabad MLA Payal Shankar said the administration is examining alternative arrangements to store jowar procured through Primary Agriculture Credit Societies. Agriculture Market Committee chairman B. Srikanth Reddy said procurement is likely to begin after May 11, citing lack of storage space as the main constraint. He said farmers are concerned about potential losses due to unexpected rainfall.
District collector Rajarshi Shah has directed officials, including the joint collector, to identify storage facilities in Maharashtra and explore private godowns for hire.
Officials indicated that procurement will commence only after adequate storage arrangements are in place, either within the district or at alternative locations.
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