Delta ryots seek paddy procurement at 22% moisture level

TIRUCHY: Thanjavur farmers staged a protest on Friday demanding uninterrupted paddy procurement with increased moisture levels as the kuruvai harvest is going on in full pace in most places.

Farmers said that the harvest is at its peak, but officials restrict the procurement to only crops with 17 per cent moisture condition. This has resulted in piling up of paddy that leads to several hardships.

A group of farmers gathered at the DPC near the railway gate at Alangudi, led by Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam state general secretary Sami Natarajan and staged a protest pressing their demands. They charged that the DPC staff were refusing to procure paddy citing the moisture condition. “Due to this farmers were struggling to find places with adequate space for drying the paddy. We have been insisting to increase the moisture condition to 22 per cent because of the rains and wet weather conditions. We have also been demanding to ensure availability of dryers, but our demands are yet to be met,” Natarajan said.

Farmers raised slogans in support of their demands and urged the state government to procure paddy, as soon as they are brought to the DPCs. They demanded immediate disbursement of money. They also appealed to the state to get permission from the Centre to increase the moisture condition to 22 per cent with immediate effect which would save farmers from incurring loss.