TN Govt urges Centre to raise MSP for paddy

Chennai, Oct 22: The Tamil Nadu Government has urged the Centre to announce a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 1,000 per tonne for paddy for the benefit of farmers, Food and Cooperation Minister E V Velu told the state assembly today.

Replying to a special mention, he said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had written to the Centre, requesting the enhancement of the MSP for paddy to Rs 1,000 per tonne on par with the MSP for wheat.

The union government had initially announced Rs 650 as the MSP for paddy after which, the state government announced a support price of Rs 25, the minister said.

Mr Velu said when he took up the matter with Union Food Minister Sharad Pawar, he announced a special incentive of Rs 50, taking the total MSP to Rs 675 per tonne.

The Chief Minister has written to the centre to raise the MSP to Rs 1,000 on par with the price for wheat, he said adding, the state government would make all efforts to help paddy growers.

Mr Velu said during 2006-2007, the government had procured 16.09 lakh metric tonne of paddy from farmers across the state.

UNI