AP introduces PP bags to end gunny bag shortage

Vijayawada: Thousands of paddy farmers in Andhra Pradesh, who have struggled for years with the shortage of gunny bags during procurement, are set to get major relief from the upcoming Kharif season. The state govt has decided to gradually replace conventional jute gunny bags with durable polypropylene (PP) bags, marking one of the biggest reforms in the paddy procurement system.Announcing the decision during a review meeting on two years of paddy procurement and Kharif preparedness in the city on Thursday, civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar said the reform would permanently address the recurring gunny bag crisis faced by farmers.Unlike traditional jute bags, PP bags are reusable, long-lasting and resistant to rain, making them more suitable for large-scale procurement operations.

The minister said the bags would be supplied directly to farmers through Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs) instead of rice millers. Initially, the new bags will be introduced in areas facing acute gunny bag shortages before being expanded across the state.The minister also announced another farmer-friendly reform. From this Kharif season, farmers transporting their paddy directly to rice mills will receive transportation charges within 48 hours, easing their financial burden during procurement.

Highlighting the govt’s achievements, Manohar said Andhra Pradesh procured a record 74.13 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the last Kharif and Rabi seasons combined, compared to 42.61 lakh metric tonnes during the final year of the previous govt. Procurement also expanded from 6.3 lakh farmers to 10.32 lakh farmers, while payments worth ₹17,592 crore were credited to farmers, with 95% receiving their dues within 24 hours.The minister said Andhra Pradesh’s reforms in the Public Distribution System (PDS) have earned national recognition. The Centre has decided to adopt the state’s model of limiting broken rice content in PDS rice to 10%, replacing the earlier 25% norm to improve rice quality.Manohar said the govt is leveraging technology to make procurement more transparent and farmer-friendly through WhatsApp scheduling, QR-code tracking and faster payments. He added that more reforms, including modern grain dryers and stricter action against irregularities by rice millers, would be introduced to strengthen the procurement system further.