523 DPCs now, more to be opened if needed: Food Minister R Kamaraj

Food Minister R Kamaraj said the paddy will be procured with revised MSP the newly opened DPCs and the centres will also work on on Sunday to compensate for the October 2 Gandhi Jayanthi holiday.

Inaugurating the procurement in DPCs in Tiruvarur and later in Thanjavur, the Food Minister said, due to the on-time release of water from Mettur, the farmers could get bumper harvest during the kuruvai season and 32.41 lakh MT paddy was procured across the state and the money was credited to the accounts of the respective farmers within 24 hours.

Accordingly Rs 6,120 crore has been credited into the accounts of the farmers so far.

Meanwhile, the minister said that the kharif procurement season that commenced on October 1 and an additional of Rs 53 per quintal of paddy has been fixed and each DPCs are instructed to procure 1000 bags per day. Previously it was between 600 and 800 bags. Stating that as many as 523 DPCs were opened across the state including Delta and non-delta regions, the minister said the state government is ready to open more number of DPCs based on the requirement.

“Each District Collector has been asked to open the DPCs based on the requirements in their respective districts,” he said.