Paddy harvest, now under way in the four blocks of the district, will result in good yield, according to officials in the agriculture department. On an average, 7.5 tonne to 8.5 tonne per hectare is expected, which is considered ‘good’ yield.
A total of 10,687 hectares were covered in Madurai west, Madurai east, Vadipatti and Alanganallur blocks in the district, which are double crop areas. Initially, there were hiccups and apprehensions among small and marginal farmers, but as days passed, the adequate water storage in reservoirs led to brisk farming.
Though the farmers expected more price for the yield, the government had fixed Rs.14.10 per kilogram of paddy (fine grain variety) and Rs.13.60 per kg for the next quality.
A few days ago, Minister for Cooperation ‘Sellur’ K. Raju opened a Direct Procurement Centre at Kulamangalam and appealed to the agriculturalists to make use of the DPCs.
According to officials, Collector L. Subramanian had given a blanket permission to the officials to open DPCs wherever required.
“After examining the feasibility, they would be opened for the benefit of farmers,” they added.
Joint Director (Agriculture) Jayasingh Gnandurai said as there was no farming operation last season, the yield would be good now.
