16.9L tonnes of paddy procured so far: Government

Replying to DMK MLA S Austin’s demand to set up a DPC at Thovalai in Kanniyakumrai constituency during the question hour, Kamaraj said that the procurement touched its peak in 2012 when 24 lakh tonnes was procured through 1,808 DPCs and Rs149 crore was disbursed as incentive. “The Thovalai DPC was closed as not even one kg of paddy was received there. This is in contrary to the member’s statement that 20,000 tonnes of paddy was available at Thovalai,” the minister conveyed. 

Austin remarked that arrivals at Thovalai DPC was less as paddy with 17 per cent moisture content and black paddy content (4-6 per cent) was rejected. “The state could follow Punjab’s example of procuring paddy with 22 per cent moisture content and Kanniyakumari district should be exempted due to its distinct climatic conditions,” he said. However, reiterating that six DPCs in Kanniyakumari district had no arrivals, the minister said that as parallel procurement was in force, farmers could sell their produce there to ensure profit.