Ryots seek fresh procurement policy

Chennai

“The procurement policy of the state government favours private players and large corporates as Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not ensured when private companies enter into the process,” Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam general secretary PR Pandian, told DT Next.

When the lockdown commenced, the state government offered several much-needed relaxations to agriculture sector to ensure that there was no shortage of food. The state also introduced a host of measures for hassle-free agricultural activities and facilitating direct procurement of paddy by linking farmers with sellers through 'Uzhavan' app. Under the direct procurement process, a common contact number 044-26426773, was provided to curb the menace of middlemen and ensure that farmers got the MSP for paddy.

However, for other agricultural produces government did not announce direct procurement and MSP was not guaranteed to the farmers.

“Though the state announced the MSP for every crop no measure was initiated to make it mandatory for the private companies to pay the MSP to farmers,” said Pandian.

Recently, state government brought in a couple of amendments which according to farmers only benefited private parties. The recent amendment to provide private market space and warehouses to private players would directly pave the way for them holding the market and promote illegal activities.

“Major corporates are the ones who are involved in hoarding and after state had granted permission for private players to utilise the warehouses, which opened up the route for hoarding,” said KP Perumal, treasurer, Tamil Nadu Farmers Union.

Perumal suggested that government officials at the rank of Deputy Director of Agriculture should be appointed as nodal officers in districts.