Thanjavur: Farmers in Thanjavur district, who were waiting to sell their kuruvai paddy were in for a shock as the direct procurement centres (DPCs) remained closed on the very first day of the commencement of kharif procurement season on Thursday.
Farmers from Thanjavur cultivated kuruvai in 1.47 lakh acres this year, which is the highest area covered in 35 years. Moreover, due to the timely release of water from Mettur and sufficient rainfall during the season, farmers cultivated the crop during the month of June itself.
Based on the harvest, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) opened 166 centres and procured 7.71 lakh tonnes. However, unlike yesteryears, paddy arrival to procurement centres started pouring. It forced the farmers to wait for many days to sell their produce at the centres. As there was no proper space to stock the paddy bags, most of the farmers kept their produce on an open space. The recent rains drenched thousands of paddy bags with some even started germinating, farmers alleged.
“Despite our long wait, TNCSC authorities kept the centres closed for several days. However, we are waiting for October 1 to sell our produce. But we were disappointed that no centre was opened,” said a farmer from Kollangarai village near Orathanadu in Thanjavur.
Meanwhile, TNCSC officials said that they have opened 226 DPCs in Thanjavur. As the new procurement season begins with a new support price on October 1, delay in procuring paddy is unavoidable, officials said.
“We have some time to clear all the procured paddy bags from 166 centres. Moreover, as per the new minimum support price (MSP) announced by the Centre, the same should be uploaded in the network system before we start procurement for the next season. This delayed paddy procurement by half a day on Thursday. However, we have completed the process and opened the centres in the afternoon. Now, we have opened 226 centres across the district as against 450 that are normally opened. Based on the requirement, we will open further centres,” senior regional manager of TNCSC, Thanjavur (in-charge) G Chitrarasu told TOI.
Farmers from Thanjavur cultivated kuruvai in 1.47 lakh acres this year, which is the highest area covered in 35 years. Moreover, due to the timely release of water from Mettur and sufficient rainfall during the season, farmers cultivated the crop during the month of June itself.
Based on the harvest, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) opened 166 centres and procured 7.71 lakh tonnes. However, unlike yesteryears, paddy arrival to procurement centres started pouring. It forced the farmers to wait for many days to sell their produce at the centres. As there was no proper space to stock the paddy bags, most of the farmers kept their produce on an open space. The recent rains drenched thousands of paddy bags with some even started germinating, farmers alleged.
“Despite our long wait, TNCSC authorities kept the centres closed for several days. However, we are waiting for October 1 to sell our produce. But we were disappointed that no centre was opened,” said a farmer from Kollangarai village near Orathanadu in Thanjavur.
Meanwhile, TNCSC officials said that they have opened 226 DPCs in Thanjavur. As the new procurement season begins with a new support price on October 1, delay in procuring paddy is unavoidable, officials said.
“We have some time to clear all the procured paddy bags from 166 centres. Moreover, as per the new minimum support price (MSP) announced by the Centre, the same should be uploaded in the network system before we start procurement for the next season. This delayed paddy procurement by half a day on Thursday. However, we have completed the process and opened the centres in the afternoon. Now, we have opened 226 centres across the district as against 450 that are normally opened. Based on the requirement, we will open further centres,” senior regional manager of TNCSC, Thanjavur (in-charge) G Chitrarasu told TOI.
