State government plans 1,564 DPCs for this season

The state has planned to procure 20 lakh metric tonnes of paddy and 1,564 direct paddy procurement centres have been planned across the state,” he added.

As per the Centre’s fixation, MSP for Grade A variety and common variety of paddy per quintal had to be procured at a cost of Rs 1,590 and Rs 1,550 respectively.

To complement this, considering the welfare of paddy farmers, the CM said the state government would provide additional Rs 70 and Rs 50 respectively to these varieties.

“With the revised hike, MSP of paddy per quintal of Grade A variety has been fixed at Rs 1,660 and for common variety at Rs 1,600,” he observed.

“I have issued orders to all the district Collectors to set up paddy procurement centres except in Chennai and The Nilgiris, so that farmers could sell paddy at these places at rates fixed by the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, eight new varieties of seeds, including paddy, cowpea, groundnut, sunflower, sugarcane, and gourd, were introduced by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University at the 48th meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister R Doraikkannu.

The Chief Minister also has announced a special gift hamper ahead of Pongal celebrations for ration card holders and Sri Lankan Tamils living in refugee camps.

The gift hamper would have one kg of raw rice and sugar, two ft long sugarcane, cashew and raisins weighing 20 grams each and five grams of cardamom.

“The package will be made available much ahead of the Pongal Day celebrations in all the public distribution shops in the state. Ration card holders and Sri Lankan Tamils can avail of it,” Palaniswami said.

“This will cost Rs 210 crore to the exchequer and benefit nearly 1.84 crore families,” he added.

Besides greeting the denizens of the state, he urged people from all walks of life to avail of the gift hamper and celebrate the harvest festival.