Damaged paddy to be procured: Minister

Kottayam, Mar 22 (UNI) Kerala Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran today said the Civil Supplies Corporation had been directed to procure all, including the damaged paddy.

Addressing a meeting at the Collectorate here, after visiting the rain-affected paddy fields in the district, the minister said as per the preliminary assessment, the total loss was estimated at Rs 100 crore. Rs 12 crore was sanctioned as an emergency relief, he added.

Directions had been given to assess the actual loss by Monday evening.

Mr Mullakkara said paddy in 133 'Padasekharams' was totally damaged due to summer rains in the district and the loss was estimated to Rs 538.52 lakh.

Meanwhile Kerala Karshaka Sanghom District Secretary M T Thomas today urged the State and Central Governments to sanction Rs 25000 per acre to the affected farmers, considering the gravity of the crop loss.

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