The Hindu : Karnataka News : Poor turnout in procurement centres

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 07, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka

Poor turnout in procurement centres

H.S. Narasimha Kumar

DAVANGERE: There has been a poor turn over in the sale of maize at procurement centres in all taluks of Davangere district. Seven days after the beginning of procurement, not even a single quintal of crop has been sold by farmers there.

The main reason attributed to the poor response has been the stipulation requiring the presence of 12 per cent moisture content in maize, by the Union Government. It had decided to procure maize at a support price of Rs. 620 a quintal, but had said that the crop should have 12 per cent moisture if it was to be sold at the procurement centres. This clause seems to have discouraged farmers who have instead been selling maize to private traders, who buy the crop maize at Rs. 550 a quintal irrespective of its moisture content.

The purpose of setting up procurement centres by the Government was to protect the farmers from traders and middle men and to provide them with a minimum support price, which has promptly been defeated by its own stipulation. Maize was grown on two lakh hectares of land in Davangere district and a yield of around 10 lakh tonnes was witnessed during the year. This is said to be the highest production of maize in any district in the State.

Joint Director of Agriculture Shivamurthappa told The Hindu that if there were more moisture content in the crop, storage for longer periods would be difficult owing to plausible fungal attacks. Since maize has oil content, it cannot be stored for long as the crop would become rancid. This was why the Government had stipulated presence of only 12 per cent moisture in the crop, he said. He said the Government’s intention of procuring maize was to maintain price stability for the crop.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka