Farmers question early closure of 39 DPCs

Tiruvannamalai

The association’s district deputy secretary S Balaraman said, “We wonder at the rationale behind closing DPCs when paddy stocks are still available with farmers.” Asked to explain, he said, “Though officials estimated that Tiruvannamalai district would provide 40,000 tonnes of paddy to the DPCs, we are now told that the closure is due to procurement crossing 70,000 tonnes. How this is possible when paddy stocks are still with farmers.”

What irked farmers according to association Thurinjapuram union secretary G Paneerselvam was that “ruling party men paid amounts less than Rs 1,000 to farmers for paddy and then sold them to DPC at government rates which ensured a profit of Rs 900 per bag of 100 kilos. Another complaint was that the “DPCs used dubious ways to ensure that out of state paddy loads were moved directly to godowns,” said Balaraman.

“With the DPCs closed, farmers are now forced to sell to private traders who will fix very low prices which will in no way benefit us,” said Paneeerselvam.

Civil Supplies officials said the 39 DPCs closed on June 15 due to lack of arrivals. “We require 1,000 paddy bags daily and on the last day received only 4,000 bags.”

Collector KS Kandasamy said even now farmers had the option of selling their paddy through market committees (MC).