The copra procurement centre here will settle the amount for the copra purchased from coconut growers within 15 days, according to Minister for Power R.Viswanathan.
Inaugurating a cooperative copra procurement centre on the Dindigul Agri-produces Cooperative Marketing Limited campus near here on Saturday, he said the State Government had introduced the minimum support price for several agri-produces, particularly paddy and coconut, so as to enable farmers to get reasonable prices for their produces.
At present, procurement price for copra in the open market was Rs.48 a kg. But the cooperative procurement centre had been procuring half copra for Rs.52.50 a kg and full copra for Rs.55 a kg.
Payment to farmers would be made within the stipulated time at the centre. Dampness of the copra should be six per cent, he added.
To sell copra at the centre, farmers should obtain identity cards and register themselves with the cooperative society. They should also bring original patta, chitta, adangal and passport size photographs for registration. The Minister said the centre would only procure copra certified by the Agriculture Department officials.
Besides the minimum support prize, the government had been offering incentives to coconut growers for drip irrigation.
This centre would also help farmers get reasonable price even if the price of copra fell in the open market, he said.
Later, he laid the foundation stone for rural roads within Thoppampatti panchayat in Athoor union.
The proposed 1.65-km-long asphalt road would be laid at an estimated cost of Rs.22 lakh.
This road would connect Perumalpatti and Ernagampatti villages and help farmers transport agri-produces like fruits and flowers to markets at Oddanchatram and Dindigul.
Various development works, including construction of overhead tank, green houses, buildings for SHGs, at a cost of Rs.60.87 lakh had been completed, he added.
