Centre announces price support scheme for copra

Port Blair, Sep 18 (UNI) The Centre has declared Price Support Scheme for the season till December 2007 for purchase of miling copra in Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the rate of Rs 36.20 per kg.

NAFED, the Nodal Agency of the Union Governement, has appointed the Andaman and Nicobar Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd, Port Blair (ANCOFED) as their agent for procurement of copra under the Price Support Schemes, that started procuring copra from today.

Under the scheme, the ANCOFED will procure copra from the Andaman district, Hut Bay (Little Andaman) and Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar Islands), Mr Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Chairman of ANCOFED told UNI.

ANCOFED had already advertised for the application from Societies members and having object of agricultural operation for executing the agreement to procure copra under the scheme.

The quality of the copra will be certified by the officials of the Agriculture Department as per specifications laid down by the NAFED, Mr Sharma clarified. Copra is the main agriculture produce for the tsunami hit tribal people of Nicobar District as their livelihood.

Copra produced in these islands were believed to be of the best quality in the country and with the declaration of Price Support Scheme for this year, farmers are happy, the chairman added.

UNI