Procurement of paddy harvested in and around Ravanasamudram near Kadayam in Tirunelveli district has been affected for the past three days following alleged intervention by a ruling party functionary.
Since the district was blessed with abundant rainfall during the northeast monsoon, over 64,000 hectares were brought under paddy cultivation. As Kadayam region, getting water for irrigation from Gadana dam on the foothills of the Western Ghats, went in for ‘pisanam’ paddy cultivation in full swing this year after the reservoir was overflowing following, influx of harvested paddy has increased. Consequently, direct procurement centres were opened based on requirement.
When one of the direct procurement centres was opened at Ravanasamudram, farmers were bringing 600 to 700 bags of paddy everyday. To help the farmers, one more direct procurement centre was opened at neighbouring Alwarkurichi.
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“Much to the shock of the farming community, the centre at Ravanasamudram remains closed since Tuesday without any prior announcement even as paddy influx continues. Now, the farmers have been forced to either take their produce all the way to Alwarkurichi or sell it for a lesser price to private traders visiting Ravanasamudram. We suspect that it is a ploy to indirectly help private traders or agents procuring paddy,” said N. Sivabalan, a farmer.
“Even after complaints were forwarded to top officials of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, no action has been taken.”
Confirming it, a Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation official said that they were threatened by a ruling party functionary from Alwarkurichi to close down the procurement centre at RavanasamudramA senior TNCSC official said that political differences between the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had led to the closure of the procurement centre.
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“Following the hostile attitude of a ruling party functionary from Alwarkurichi, the procurement centre at Ravanasamudram has been closed. We’re persuading both the functionaries of DMK and the AIADMK to cooperate with the TNCSC personnel in the interest of farmers. Hopefully, the Ravanasamudram DPC will resume operation within a day or two,” he said.