Paddy procurement by private merchants in delta districts has gained momentum.
A section of farmers still prefer to sell their produce at the local Direct Procurement Centres (DPC) of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. Those unhappy over some DPC employees “demanding money” from them, however, have shown interest in selling their produce to private traders.
A large number of middlemen — working for rice traders — are camping in different parts of Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur districts for procuring paddy directly from farmers. Armed with scales and load carriers, they shift their procurement locations periodically depending on demand. Unlike the system being followed in DPCs, farmers dispose of their produce to private merchants at their doorstep.
In Tiruvarur district, more than 50 persons have been camping in Velukkudi, Kamalapuram, Rathinakudi, Kombur and neighbouring villages.
The merchants mainly procure short-term varieties such as ASD-16, CR-1050, Co-51 and NLR, and medium-term varieties mainly BPT-5204. According to a rough estimate, they have so far procured more than 2 lakh tonnes since harvest began in the first week of February.
The merchants offer ₹890 per bag of ASD-16 and CR-1050 paddy varieties. The offer price for BPT is hovering around ₹1,050 per bag. However, the rate for BPT variety is said to be ₹150 less than last year.
Farmers, who sold paddy to private players at Velukkudi, alleged that they were forced to deduct ₹40 per bag at many DPCs. Moreover, there was the possibility of price reduction on account of discoloured and damaged paddy. Hence, they preferred private merchants to DPCs.
“We are paid on the spot by private merchants. We do not need to bear the transportation charges as they procure paddy at our doorstep” said A. Mahendran.
D. Rengarajan of Velukudi, a trader, said the procurement was in full swing. Although a section of farmers were severely hit due to lack of water in some areas of Tiruvarur district, production was better than last year in general. The procurement would continue for two to three weeks.
