New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao claimed on Tuesday that the Centre's agriculture policies are "regressive" and are "dampening" farm sector growth in the country, news agency PTI reported.


He asserted that the Centre's bad policies will diminish output rather than boost it.


According to an official statement, Rao made the remarks during a meeting with state Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy and officials on crop preparation for the next rainy season.


Rao, also known as KCR, inquired about the state's ongoing rice purchase during the current summer season harvest.


According to the officials, procurement has gained traction. They stated that gunny sacks, transport trucks, and other items necessary for paddy purchases had been received.


While the state has established 6,983 procurement centres, 536 have already opened. According to authorities, around 1,200 MTs of paddy have already been purchased.


Rao stated that agriculture is making remarkable development in the state and that the farm sector would not experience drought in the future since irrigation projects are being finished quickly.


He urged authorities to obtain enough seeds and fertiliser for the next rainy season harvest.


Rao stated that severe measures would be taken to combat the threat of phoney seeds.


He advised that specific strategies be developed for the development of marketable crops.


Because Russia and Ukraine, which supply raw materials for DAP production, are presently at war, Rao believes farmers should be made aware that DAP should be utilised with caution.


According to the announcement, he also instructed authorities to take efforts to ensure that the state government's flagship Dalit welfare initiative, 'Dalit Bandhu,' reaches the beneficiaries who have already been identified with greater speed.


Rao's criticism of the Centre's agricultural policy came during a recent conflict between the state and the Central Government over paddy/rice purchases in the state.


While the state administration sought that the Centre buy paddy grown in the state during the current summer harvest, the latter stated that it would buy uncooked rice.


The state administration has announced the establishment of paddy procurement centres.


(With PTI Inputs)