Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120353770400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

2.77 lakh tonnes of paddy procured from farmers

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Kuruvai procurement operations in the delta districts has come to an end with the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation purchasing 2.77 lakh tonnes of paddy in the current season. Fortunately torrential rains in the delta districts did not affect the procurement operations.

In the last kuruvai season due to crop failure there was no procurement in the delta districts.

In the current season, the corporation purchased 1.03 lakh tonnes each in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts and 32,000 tonnes in Nagapattinam district. Tiruchi accounted for 8,000 tonnes and Pudukottai 6000 tonnes.

This time the procurement was good in non-delta areas also. In Madurai district, the corporation procured 9,800 tonnes, in Erode 5,800 tonnes, Kancheepuram 2,900 tonnes, Tirunelveli 2,200 tonnes and Tiruvallur 1,200 tonnes.

The corporation is moving the paddy stock to custom hulling mills and to its own modern rice mills for hulling.

Meanwhile, the State has sufficient stock of rice for the public distribution system. The corporation has 2.25 lakh tonnes of rice and paddy stock equivalent to 1.22 lakh tonnes of rice.

Another 6.93 lakh tonnes of rice meant for Tamil Nadu is in the godowns of the Food Corporation of India.

About 3.1 lakh tonnes of rice is being distributed every month through the PDS, according to an official of the Civil Supplies Corporation.