The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Samba paddy procurement falls short of target

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Sunday, May 04, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Samba paddy procurement falls short of target

S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI: Despite record samba paddy production, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation could not achieve its procurement target of more than 15 lakh tonnes in the current samba season. In the last samba season, the corporation purchased 15 lakh tonnes.

As the per hectare productivity of samba in the delta districts was more than six tonnes, the corporation thought that it could easily achieve the target. Daily arrivals were heavy in the beginning of the season -- about 25,000 tonnes – and, within a month, the corporation purchased 6.2 lakh tonnes. The momentum was gradually lost and the corporation could purchase only 10.76 lakh tonnes, including 8.61 lakh tonnes in the delta districts. One reason for the sudden drop in arrivals, according to a Civil Supplies Corporation official, was better price offered by private traders. As against the minimum price of Rs.825 a quintal for fine variety and Rs.795 for common variety, private merchants offered Rs.850 to Rs.900. Another reason was that big farmers held back the stock hoping to get a better price later.

The official said though the corporation failed to achieve the target, its objective of ensuring a better price for farmers had been fulfilled. The shortfall in the target, he hoped, would be bridged in the coming kuruvai season as the water position at the Mettur reservoir was comfortable.

Referring to samba procurement, he said Tiruvarur district topped with 3.25 lakh tonnes followed by Thanjavur with 3.21 lakh tonnes and Nagapattinam with 2.15 lakh tonnes. Arrival at direct purchase centres in the delta districts was of the order of 600 tonnes per day. In non-delta districts the corporation was getting about 2,000 tonnes. In Tiruvallur, Madurai, Kancheepuram, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Tiruvannamali, Villupuram and Erode, the corporation had so far purchased more than 10,000 tonnes each.

According to an official, in Tiruvannamali, Kancheepuram and Villupuram, the corporation participated in an open bid at regulated markets and purchased a substantial quantity as its price was more than the price offered by traders.

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