As the farmers were expected to harvest a bumper paddy crop this year, thanks to good rainfall during the north east monsoon so far, the district administration has decided to open 75 procurement centres this season and begin procurement from January 12.
Chairing the farmers grievance redressal meeting here on Friday, Collector K Nanthakumar said as farmers faced some problems in bringing the paddy to the procurement centres last year and complained about delay in procurement, the district administration has decided to open 25 more centres this year.
The administration would open more centres depending upon the need, he said adding 45 procurement centres would be opened in Paramakudi division and 30 centres in Ramanathapuram division. As farmers in a few areas were set to harvest the paddy crops later this month and early next month, the centres would start procuring paddy from January 12, the Collector said.
The Collector, however, ruled out opening mobile procurement centres. Making it clear that the government had no proposal to introduce mobile procurement centres, he said the farmers were free to sell the paddy crop to traders who visited their fields for procurement.
Giving details of rainfall during the monsoon period so far, N. V. Krishnamoorthy, Joint Director of Agriculture said the district received 1,000 mm of rainfall for the third time during the last 10 years this year. However, the rainfall was good in the coastal belts and many of the interior parts received only normal rainfall.
Responding to pleas by the farmers, the Collector said the district administration would seek additional quantum of water from Vaigai dam.
Water was released from Vaigai on November 28 and the district has almost received its full credit of 2,400 mcft.
Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies T. Arokiya Sugumar said a total of 14,292 farmers have so far been distributed farm loans of Rs. 56.32 crore against the target of Rs. 70.40 crore for the year 2015-16.
He said the Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative Societies (PACCS) had a total stock of 3,321 metric tonnes of fertilizers, enough to meet the requirements of the farmers.
“The centres
will start procuring paddy from January 12”
Source : The Hindu
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