The Centre has allowed the Telangana government to deposit a total of 6.05 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) of fortified parboiled rice with Food Corporation of India (FCI), out of the remaining paddy of Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21(Rabi crop) and paddy of KMS 2021-22, an official release said on Saturday (14 May).

The letter in this regard was issued on Wednesday (11 May), keeping in view the request of the state government, the Union Food Ministry said in a release.

"The original milling/delivery of Customed Milled Rice (CMR) period of KMS 2020-21 (Rabi) in Telangana was upto September, 2021. On the request of State Govt of Telangana, this has been extended seventh time upto May, 2022," the ministry said.

Earlier, the Centre approved procurement estimate of 40.20 LMT of rice in Telangana during KMS 2021-22 (Rabi Crop) with procurement period upto June, 2022 and milling period upto September, 2022.

As requested by the Telangana government in a letter dated 13 April this year, the Centre's Department of Food and Public Distribution approved the procurement estimate in a letter dated 18 April.

The ministry said that the Central government has always supported procurement operations in all states including Telangana.

"As compared to 15.79 LMT of rice procured during KMS 2015-16 benefitting 5,35,007 farmers with MSP value of Rs 3,417.15 crore, 94.53 LMT of rice was procured in Telangana during KMS 2020-21 benefitting 21,64,354 farmers with MSP value of Rs 26,637.39 crore," the ministry said.

As on 11 May, in the ongoing KMS 2021-22, 72.71 LMT of paddy (48.72 LMT of equivalent rice) has been procured benefitting 11,14,833 farmers with MSP value of Rs 14251.59 crore, it added.