The district administration has decided to open 16 new tur procurement centres in Vijayapura district to facilitate farmers to sell tur to the government at ₹ 5,050 per quintal.
Though the new centres would remain open only till June 10, the decision has come as a breather for farmers who were anxiously waiting for the government to reopen the procurement centres after prices of tur dipped in the open market.
16 centres
In a release, Deputy Commissioner K.B. Shivakumar has said that the places where the centres have been set up are Tikota, Mulawad, Ingaleshwar, Bhairawadagi, Ukkali, Rakkasagi, Hirur, Bhutgunaki, Yerakhari, Tumbagi, Almel, Hikkanagutti, Kondaguli, Asantapur, Salotagi and Mirgi.
The government has, however, said that only up to 25 quintals of tur would be procured from each farmer.
Another condition the government has set is that the centres will purchase tur only from farmers who registered earlier but could not sell as the centres closed down.
A strict direction has been issued to the centres that no new registrations could be done for procurement.
The government has said that the farmers who have registered should carry valid documents of their land and proof of cultivation of tur. They should have their Aadhaar cards linked to their bank accounts. Sale proceeds would be directly credited to their bank accounts.
Meanwhile, the farmers though have welcomed the decision, said that an opportunity should have been given to unregistered farmers also as many could not register because of various reasons.
This year, the district registered a record 30 lakh quintals of tur production despite the scanty rainfall. Following the increased output, the price of tur declined in the market which forced the government to intervene in the market with a view to helping farmers.
