Paddy farmers in Andhra Pradesh can now choose when they want to sell their produce, and they do not need to leave home to do it.
The state Agriculture Department has added a self-scheduling facility to its APAIMS Farmer App.
The facility lets farmers book a sale from anywhere, using a mobile phone.
The government says this removes the need to visit Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs), the farmer service centres, or depend on officials to book a slot.
Key points
- Farmers can book paddy sales on the APAIMS Farmer App from any place.
- The facility is open to all farmers registered for the Kharif 2026-27 season.
- The government aims to buy 37 lakh metric tonnes of paddy this season.
- Payments will go directly to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
So what is changing for farmers?
Until now, farmers had to visit an RSK after giving details of their cultivation and expected yield.
Officials then booked the procurement slot for them.
With the new facility, farmers can schedule the sale of their full produce.
They can also sell in instalments, if that suits them better.
How will farmers book and get paid?
Registration and a valid Farmer ID are mandatory. This applies to tenant farmers too.
Procurement will be based on e-Panta records, which are the government's digital crop records.
Once a farmer books a slot, APAIMS will verify the details before forwarding them to the Civil Supplies department.
Payments will then be made directly into Aadhaar-linked accounts.
- 1Register with Farmer IDRegistration and a valid Farmer ID are mandatory, including for tenant farmers.
- 2Book a slot on the appUse the APAIMS Farmer App on a mobile phone to book a sale from anywhere.
- 3APAIMS verifies detailsProcurement is based on e-Panta records; APAIMS checks details before forwarding them.
- 4Civil Supplies processes saleVerified details are forwarded to the Civil Supplies department.
- 5Payment to bank accountPayments are made directly into Aadhaar-linked accounts.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
The minimum support price (MSP), which is the government's set buying price, is Rs 2,461 per quintal for Grade-A paddy.
For common paddy, it is Rs 2,441 per quintal. A quintal is 100 kilograms.
What happens next for paddy buying?
The government has set up 2,619 RSKs and procurement centres for the work.
Around 24,000 personnel are engaged, and 31,000 GPS-enabled vehicles will carry the paddy.
More than six crore gunny bags are also ready.
Agriculture Director Manazir Jeelani Samoon said the department wants farmers to know about the facility and use it well.
Farmers are still waiting for procurement to begin.
It was delayed by cyclones and bad weather, even though the first deadline was November 1.
Explainer
What happened before
- Farmers had to visit Rythu Seva Kendras and depend on officials to book procurement slots after giving cultivation and yield details.
- Paddy procurement was delayed by cyclones and adverse weather, even though the initial deadline was November 1.
Why it matters
Farmers can now choose the date and time for their paddy sale from a mobile phone, without standing in queues or waiting for officials to book a slot.
What to watch next
- Farmers are waiting for the start of paddy procurement, and the sources do not give a start date.
