- ‘Vijay’ Brand’s Decline
- Markfed Becomes a Hub of Corruption
- Probes Ordered but Reports Missing
Article Today, Hyderabad: Agricultural corporations, which should support farmers, are now trapped in the hands of private companies and contractors. These corporations are meant to protect farmers’ interests, but some officials treat them as their personal assets. Employees themselves are now raising concerns about large-scale corruption involving hundreds of crores.
Probes Ordered but Reports Missing
Soon after the Congress government came to power, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao ordered a thorough probe into irregularities within these corporations. Senior IAS officers conducted inquiries and collected detailed reports. However, the findings of these reports remain undisclosed, raising serious questions.
Key Corporations Under Scanner
The investigations covered several major organisations, including Rythu Bandhu Samithi, Seed and Organic Certification Agency, Agro-Industries, Warehousing Corporation, HACA, Markfed, Oilfed, Telangana State Seeds Development Corporation, and TSCAB. Officers examined assets, revenues, and debt positions in these institutions.
‘Vijay’ Brand’s Decline
Oilfed, once famous for its ‘Vijay’ edible oil, failed to defend its market share. Private companies quickly expanded while Oilfed lost its ground. Critics blame the failure on poor publicity and alleged collusion between some officials and private firms. There are also accusations of unnecessary expenditure of around ₹300 crore on the Narmetta Oil Palm factory. Corruption charges surfaced even in the procurement of oil palm plants. Reports suggest that former MD Surender’s tenure saw many of these irregularities. Employees now fear that Oilfed might fully slip into the control of a private company.
Markfed Becomes a Hub of Corruption
Markfed’s condition has worsened over the years. Fertilizer transport tenders are controlled by a small group. Recently, the corporation sold jowar stocks to traders at heavy losses, allegedly earning huge kickbacks for some officials. Even after public criticism, the corrupt practices continue without fear. Some key officials have been in control for years, reportedly looting resources. Farmers now express anger as officials openly insult them. In one case, a senior officer shouted at a farmer saying, “Get out from my chamber!” but welcomed traders politely just minutes later. This discriminatory behaviour triggered protests among farmers, who questioned whether Markfed belongs only to these officers.
Bitter Power Struggle in Agro-Industries
Agros, responsible for supplying agricultural machinery, is now struggling. The farm mechanisation scheme is almost non-functional. Insiders say the corporation is ignoring key projects. A serious power tussle has emerged between the Chairman and the Managing Director, especially over petrol pump allotments. Unemployed youths who applied for petrol pumps have been waiting for years without any progress.
Private Warehouses Get Unfair Benefits
The Warehousing Corporation, meant to handle public storage, is often accused of favouring private godowns. Surprisingly, district managers in many places are only outsourcing staff. Critics argue that regular recruitments are being ignored. Meanwhile, Telangana State Seeds Development Corporation is drowning in debt. The government’s failure to clear pending dues has left the organisation unable to pay salaries.
Massive Groundnut Scam in HACA
Before the Congress took power, HACA faced a major groundnut scam. The organisation, supported by the Central government, was supposed to sell groundnut at subsidised rates to consumers across India. Instead, some officials sold the stock to traders and pocketed huge profits. Former MD Surender was reportedly in charge during this period. The scam extended to several states, but no serious action has been taken so far. Reports estimate that nearly ₹30 crore was diverted.
