Puducherry: The administration has got clearance from the Union Agriculture Ministry for payment of Rs.40 as bonus per quintal of paddy farmers were supplying to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Agriculture Minister Vaithilingam was in New Delhi for discussions with officials of the Agriculture and Power Ministries since last few days.

He told The Hindu on Thursday over phone that the FCI would pay a bonus of Rs. 40 for a quintal procured from farmers during the current fiscal (2007-2008).

The minimum support price, as already fixed by the Centre, would be Rs. 610 per quintal of fine variety of paddy and Rs.580 for common variety. In addition to this, farmers were entitled to get Rs. 40 as bonus per quintal. Farmers supplying paddy from April would be entitled to get the bonus. He said that the procurement from farmers in Puducherry and Karaikal was introduced a few months ago, and till March 31 this year 4,000 tonnes were procured against a target of 10,000 tonnes. He said that presently the Corporation would procure from Puducherry alone, and it was expected to procure around 2,000 tonnes for the next six months

Order faxed

He said that the order issued by the Ministry had already been faxed to the FCI. On the requirement of more gas from Narimanam for enhanced production of gas-based electricity, he said he had held discussions with the officials of the Power Ministry and hoped that the plea would be conceded so that the Corporation would be able to produce 100 megawatt of power. Mr. Vaithilingam said a drive had been launched by Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare in villages to control foot and mouth disease among the milch animals.

The department had intensified its campaign to ensure speedy prevention of the disease. The Minister said he had asked the Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences here to prepare a feasibility report to set up a Livestock Corporation. Once it was available, steps would be taken to float the corporation.

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