Paddy procurement row: DPCs not shut, says Tamil Nadu

THANJAVUR: Paddy procurement by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) has become a matter of controversy with farmers and political party leaders expressing concern over stopping of paddy procurement by the corporation from August 31, following an order from central government and R.Kamaraj, state food minister denying the closure of Direct Purchase Centres at a press conference at Tiruchy on Sunday. 

P.R.Pandian, Co-ordinator of Thamizhaga Anaithu Vivasaya Sangangalin Orunginaippu Kuzhu, in a press release, said that Managing Director of TNCSC has issued orders to stop procurement from August 31 following the central government’s order. 

The order from centre asked TNCSC to stop procurement from August 31 and supply converting the paddy procured into rice to central pool before September 30. 

Referring to the order from TNCSC MD that action had been taken by the corporation to convert the procured paddy till August 31 into rice, Pandian pointed out there has never been a gap in procurement in the past. Centre also in its order has not specified when again the procurement will start. “I appeal to Tamil Nadu government to continue procurement and not to stop it” Pandian added.

R.Mutharasan, state secretary of CPI also said that “closure of DPCs from August 31 as per order from central government has come as a shock for farmers. Farmers are engaged in cultivation against many odds. Central government has not fixed a remunerative price for their produce. They can get a minimum price only in government procurement centres. If that were closed they will fall prey to brokers and private parties. Tamil Nadu government should take steps to continue procurement”, the CPI leader said.

S.Ramadoss, founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi, has come down heavily on state government and said that closure of DPCs is tantamount to “killing farmers”. Procurement is done from October 1 to September 30 (next year). Procurement starts in October only taking into consideration harvest of Kuruvai at that time and closed after samba harvest next year on September 30. “I was told 112 DPCs in Nagapattinam district have been closed now” the PMK chief said in a statement.

Central government said that it’s aim was to double the income of farmers in 2022. But on the contrary it is closing down procurement centres. This raises doubts in the minds of people about the intention of central government which is contemplating to close down Public Distribution System (PDS) by planning to introduce direct handing over of subsidies to farmers through bank accounts, Ramadoss said.

However, state food minister Kamaraj told reporters at Trichy that Chief Minister K.Palaniswami has ordered the opening of the DPCs continuously even during the annual maintenance during the current month.