The Hindu : Front Page : Paddy farmers prefer open market in delta districts

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Saturday, Aug 11, 2007
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Paddy farmers prefer open market in delta districts

Special Correspondent

TNCSC opens 20 DPCs in Nagapattinam district

NAGAPATTINAM: The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) has opened 20 direct purchase centres (DPCs) to procure kuruvai paddy from the farmers in delta region from this month to mark the paddy procurement season.

Farmers in Mayiladuturai, Sirkazhi, Tarangampadi and Sembanarkovil, coming under Cauvery command area in the district, had raised the kuruvai paddy crop with the help of pumpsets without waiting for water release from the Mettur Reservoir on the scheduled date of June 12.

A senior official of the Agriculture Department said that out of the normal kuruvai cultivation area of 35,000 hectares in the district, the crop was raised in about 25,000 hectares in Mayiladuturai, Sirkazhi and Sembanarkovil areas and in some places in Kilvelur taluk.

He pointed out that harvest of the early planted kuruvai crop had commenced in Mayiladuturai and Sirkazhi belt and the farmers reaped a good harvest of more than six tonnes per hectare.

Farmers sell paddy in the open market. Although the TNCSC has opened 20 DPCs (11 in Mayiladuturai and nine in Kilvelur and Nagapattinam taluks), no farmer is turning up there as they get higher prices from paddy merchants and traders.

P. Moorthy, Senior Regional Manager, TNCSC, Nagapattinam, told The Hindu on Thursday that the TNCSC was offering Rs.650 per quintal including Rs.40 for Grade ‘A’ paddy variety and Rs.620 per quintal for common variety. < /p>

He said that the farmers were now getting Rs.70 to Rs.80 more per quintal of paddy from the merchants who take deliveries at the fields, resulting in saving on transport charges.

Mr. Moorthy pointed out that the TNCSC had received a representation from Mayiladuturai region for opening more DPCs.

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