₹43.87 crore disbursed to farmers for paddy procured by DPCs in Virudhunagar district

With opening of direct procurement centres across Virudhunagar district, as many as 3,137 farmers in Virudhunagar district have received ₹43.87 crore for their produce.

This was announced at the monthly farmers’ grievances redressal meeting, chaired by Virudhunagar Collector, N.O. Sukhaputra, held at Virudhunagar Collectorate on Friday.

The farmers were told that crop loans to the tune of ₹245 crore had been disbursed through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies in the district.

“The disbursement was promptly made to the bank accounts of the farmers,” said the Joint Registrar of Cooperative, Senthilkumar.

During the discussion, the farmers urged the Collector to get compensation for those under crop insurance scheme for coconut and mango produce lost. They also highlighted that they required drying yards across the district and sought special funds to construct them.

Farmer R. Ram Pandian reiterated his complaint on Aavin in Virudhunagar district having stopped distributing one litre milk packets.

“These packets were popular among tea stalls and the cooks who use milk at marriages and other functions,” he said. Since the tea stalls and cooks have switched over to private milk, it would badly affect the farmers having milch animals, he said.

The Collector asked Aavin officials to look into the issue immediately.

The Collector promised farmers of Mamsapuram of allocating special funds for constructing a library building.

Stating that increased production of maize in the current season has led to steep fall in its price which cost the farmers dearly, they sought steps to contain the falling price. Similarly, they sought Geographical Indication tags for Samba Vathal and Panjavarna mangoes.

Joint Director of Agriculture, Mohandas Sowmiyan, Personal Assistant (Agriculture) to the Collector, A. Amsaveni, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Suba Vasuki, and Executive Engineer (Agricultural Engineering) Indira, were among those who took part in the meeting.