A discrepancy has been reported in the quantum of paddy harvested from the Neervilakom paddy fields and the paddy being transported to the rice mill of Oil Palm India Ltd (OPIL) at Vechoor in Kottayam for producing the Aranmula Rice brand launched by the government recently.
As per the records with the Agriculture Department, the Neervilakom Padashekhara Samiti (NPS) had transported 120 tonnes of paddy to Vechoor from April 26 to May 5.
However, the OPIL records show that it has received only 70 tonnes of paddy from Neervilakom during the period, showing a loss of 50 tonnes of paddy during transit.
The special officer appointed by the government for paddy farming in Aranmula Puncha J. Sajeev says the pre-harvest survey conducted by the Agriculture Department had predicted a harvest of 10 tonnes a hectare from the 30-hectare Neervilakom fields.
But, the Samiti’s statement mentioned a harvest of only 120 tonnes, putting the average crop at four tonnes a hectare, Mr. Sajeev said.
Mr. Sajeev said he had reported this discrepancy to District Collector R. Girija, who is also the chairperson of the paddy farming revival committee, and to the Principal Agriculture Officer.
Mr. Sajeev said the NPS leaders had told him that six lorry loads of paddy (two loads of 10 tonne each and four loads of 25 tonne each) had been transported to the rice mills. He has mooted an inquiry into the shortage.
NPS secretary Hariram said the Samiti had launched cultivation in 30 hectares at Neervilakom after 15 years as part of the government’s project to revive paddy farming in Aranmula Puncha.
