Collector M. Pallavi Baldev inaugurated a direct paddy procurement centre at Melmangalam panchayat under Periyakulam Panchayat Union near here on Thursday.
The centre opened under Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation will ensure a fair price for farmers and protect them from price crash in the market.
Under the Central government’s paddy procurement project, the kharif season procurement began in October 2018 through two centres in Melmangalam. The government fixed a minimum support price of ₹ 1770 a quintal for A grade paddy. Along with the State government’s incentive of ₹ 70, the paddy was procured for ₹1840 a quintal. For the common paddy variety, the rate was ₹ 1800 including minimum support price of ₹ 1750 and ₹ 50 incentive.
The amount will be credited in their bank accounts of farmers within three days. Paddy with 17 % moisture content will not have any price cut. Till July 17, 2019, the kharif season procurement stood at 939.560 metric tonnes in the procurement centre 1 and 914.890 metric tonne in the procurement centre 2.
The procurement centre inaugurated for the current season is expected to be useful to farmers growing kuruvai crop on 600 acres at Melmangalam and Jeyamangalam under Periyakulam Panchayat Union.