The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) is planning to procure 9,62,043 tonnes of paddy during this samba season in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts.
T. Pichaiah, Senior Regional Manager of TNCSC, Thanjavur district told The Hindu that it has been planned to procure six lakh tonnes of samba paddy in Thanjavur district alone. About 350 Direct Purchase Centres will be opened in the district. “We have planned to put up 12 cap storages — three in Thanjavur region at Pillaiyar Patti, Punalkulam and Veeramarasampettai and four around Kumbakonam and four around Pattukottai to store the paddy procured,” Mr. Pichaiah said.
At present Kuruvai paddy is procured by the existing 87 DPCs. Kuruvai was raised on 27,000 hectares in the district this year in the pump-set irrigated areas. Harvest has been completed on 20,000 hectares and so far, the procurement amounts to 8,808 tonnes. “We hope to procure 10,000 tonnes of Kuruvai paddy this year,” Mr. Pichaiah said.
According to TNCSC officials of Tiruvarur district, the plan is to procure 3,62,043 tonnes of samba paddy in the district. A total of 370 DPCs will be opened in the district and thirteen cap storages will be put up to store paddy.
Kuruvai procurement from October 1 in the district so far is 10,524 tonnes. “We hope to procure 20,000 tonnes in the district. Samba procurement will start from November end,” he said.
Samba cultivation on about 2.5 lakh hectares in the two districts is being planned. Transplantation is now going on in the two districts.
