The Hindu : All set for decentralised paddy procurement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 29, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

All set for decentralised paddy procurement

By G. Srinivasan

Thanjavur Sept. 28. Paddy procurement under the new decentralised system will start from October 1 in the Cauvery delta districts.

As a prelude to the commencement, V. Gunalan, Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, held a review meeting here today. Senior regional managers from eight delta districts, including Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, attended.

Besides explaining the new system, Mr.Gunalan wanted to know from them how many direct purchase centres could be opened in the delta districts, officials said.

Normally, in the peak season, nearly 700 DPCs will be opened in Thanjavur,Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts and 900 (including 700) in all eight delta districts.

In a normal year, the TNCSC procurement of kuruvai samba and thaladi paddy would be of the order of 20 lakh tonnes. In monetary terms, it would be done to the tune of Rs. 1200 crores in a year.

Now, to start with, a minimum number of DPCs would be opened, apart from making purchases at taluk godowns, official sources said. The number of DPCs would be increased depending on the need.

Money for the procurement would be given by the Centre under the minimum support price scheme and the TNCSC would act as an agent for the purchase.

However, strict quality norms would be enforced as required by the Centre. Farmers could sell only quality paddy to the TNCSC hereafter. The norms include moisture content only up to 18 per cent, and coloured and disfigured grain and solid particles would be allowed only upto three per cent. The TNCSC had in the past been relaxing quality norms whenever farmers demanded relaxation on grounds of damage in rain and floods. The TNCSC purchased paddy with 22 per cent moisture. In some years, it also purchased the grade three variety with maximum relaxation when the paddy was damaged heavily in floods. It was also giving incentives. These concessions would now become a thing of the past and there would be no compromise on quality, said the sources.

'Government decision hailed'

The Thanjavur taluk unit of the Cauvery Delta Paddy and Rice Whole sales Association has welcomed the new system of procurement, in the present economic situation. In a press release here, the president, T. G. Pasupathy, said the Government was not able to purchase quality paddy, as farmers did not adhere to quality norms. On the other hand, they sold quality paddy to private parties. Mr. Pasupathy suggested that the Government purchase quality paddy from wholesale merchants who could be appointed its agents.

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