The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Rice stock position comfortable in State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 04, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rice stock position comfortable in State

S. Vydhianathan

3.3 lakh tonnes of rice in godowns, besides four lakh with FCI

CHENNAI: The State Government has a comfortable stock of 3.3 lakh tonnes of rice in its godowns besides four lakh tonnes with the Food Corporation of India.

With an average offtake of 2.8 lakh tonnes a month through the public distribution system, the current stock will last more than two months, according to a Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation official.

Samba procurement is on in full swing in the delta districts. On an average, 18,000 tonnes of paddy is arriving at the direct purchase centres.

So far this season, the Corporation has procured 8.6 lakh tonnes.

It hopes to buy another three lakh tonnes before the season ends. Combined with kuruvai procurement, the Corporation has so far procured 12.19 lakh tonnes as against 7.41 lakh tonnes during the same period last year. In the delta districts alone, 11.90 lakh tonnes was bought from farmers against 6.96 lakh tonnes the previous year.

Following representations from farmers in the non-delta areas, the Corporation is opening direct purchase centres in Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul and Erode districts.

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