TN Govt hikes procurement price for paddy

Chennai, Dec 3 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government today announced an additional incentive of Rs 50 per quintal for procurement of paddy for the kharif season 2007-08.

This followed demands from farmers, seeking a hike in the procurement price of paddy to Rs 1,000 per quintal on a par with wheat.

An official release here said the Government had been providing Rs 675 per quintal for 'A' grade paddy and Rs 645 for common paddy variety as procurement price from October this year.

Following demands from farmers, the Government had announced an incentive of Rs 50 per quintal and fixed the price at Rs 725 and Rs 695 respectively. Bowing to persistent demands and agitation by the farmers, the Government issued the order, based on which ryots would now get a procurement price of Rs 775 and Rs 745 respectively.

During the last kharif season 2006-07, the Government had announced a procurement price of Rs 610 and Rs 580 respectively and later increased it to Rs 650 and Rs 620.

UNI