9,51,597 tonnes of paddy procured

Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (TNCSC) has procured 9,51,597 tonnes of paddy during this Kharif period till April 16, 2011.

Out of this total quantity of paddy, 4,88,597 tonnes of paddy had been procured in Thanjavur district and 4,63,000 tonnes in Tiruvarur district.

As samba harvest has almost been completed in the two districts arrivals at the Direct Purchase Centres in both districts have dwindled. The DPCs receive 500 to 1000 tonnes of paddy per day now.

According to TNCSC sources, 177 DPCs function now in Thanjavur district and 135 in Tiruvarur district. The target for both districts is five lakh tonnes each and TNCSC sources say that the target will be achieved.

In Thanjavur district late samba has been raised in villages like Sengipatti, Manyeripatti etc. This paddy and summer paddy crop also will come to the DPCs in the coming months.

Meanwhile, farmers of Thanjavur district have taken up cultivation of pulses. According to V.Balasubramanian, Joint Director of Agriculture, green gram has been raised on 6519 hectares, black gram on 29,213 hectares, groundnut on 6523 hectares, gingeley on 4538 hectares and Cotton on 5400 hectares. Besides these crops, they have also raised sugarcane on 7547 hectares.

Kuruvai seeds are also being distributed now by the department.