Over procurement of paddy at DPCs alleged

The Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu has alleged that around two kg of paddy is being procured over and above the prescribed weight per gunny bag at direct purchase centres.

Addressing the media at Mannargudi on Saturday, February 14, committee president P. R. Pandian said it was regrettable to receive information from farmers that though 40 kg of paddy should be procured per bag at the DPCs, the staff weigh 41 to 42 kg of paddy per bag overlooking the objections raised by the farmers measuring their paddy at the centres.

Exhorting the Tamil Nadu government to conduct surprise checks and prevent such malpractices, he demanded stern action against the DPC staff indulging in such activities.

He also expressed his resentment towards non-payment of compensation for the insured crops that were lost due to natural calamity. For instance, paddy crop was lost in several hamlets on the border of Needamangalam-Mannargudi taluks.

Announcing that farmers of the hamlets were not eligible to receive any compensation without conducting crop loss assessments in the areas was highly regrettable, he added.