The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Arrival of paddy comes down

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Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Arrival of paddy comes down

S. Vydhianathan

This follows of minimum support price announcement
Daily arrivals come down to 881 tonnes since last week-end

CHENNAI: Arrival of paddy at direct purchase centres in the Cauvery delta has come down in the wake of the government’s announcement of minimum support price (MSP) of Rs.1,000 a quintal for common varieties, and Rs.1,050 for fine varieties, for the coming season beginning October 1.

The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, which purchases paddy from farmers, has so far procured 11.56 lakh tonnes in the current season, including 9.81 lakh tonnes from the delta districts and the rest from non-delta districts. This is against the target of 16.5 lakh tonnes.

Daily arrivals, which were about 2,000 tonnes till last week, came down to 881 tonnes since last week-end. In the delta districts, the arrivals were just 400 tonnes.

At present, 408 direct purchase centres are functioning in the districts. According to a Civil Supplies Corporation official, farmers, who were hitherto holding on to the stock hoping for a better price, will continue to do so till October.

Presently, the corporation is offering Rs.825 a quintal for grade A variety and Rs.795 for common variety.

The official said the Corporation could not achieve the target in the current season as heavy rain in February affected paddy production in the delta districts.

The shortfall would be made good in the coming kuruvai season.

Unlike last year, when the corporation did not get kuruvai paddy due to crop failure, this year procurement was likely to be heavy as favourable conditions were prevailing in the delta districts. Water from the Mettur reservoir was released in time and the southwest monsoon was expected to be normal.

Traders unenthusiastic

The official said private traders may not be enthusiastic in purchasing paddy from farmers due to the government’s ceiling on stock position. As the price offered by the corporation was more than their expectation, they would like to sell their paddy stocks to it.

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