Announce paddy prices, says AIADMK

PUDUCHERRY: AIADMK Puducherry unit secretary A Anbazhagan urged the State to announce procurement price for paddy produced by farmers.He said farmers had to sell their produce at a cheap rate to the neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu as the Territorial Administration had not yet announced a procurement price. Saying that the UT government headed by AINRC chief N Rangasamy had no clear agriculture policy, he said farmers were forced to sell their land for other purposes as agriculture had become unprofitable.He said the government should immediately announce procurement price to check the distress sale by farmers and procure paddy through agencies like PASIC and PAPSCO.Anbazhgan said in Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa had announced an incentive of `80 per quintal for common variety and `70 per quintal for grade A variety of paddy for the khariff season 2011-12, over and above the minimum support price of ` 1,080 and `1,110 fixed by the Centre, respectively. Accordingly the procurement price for paddy would be `1,130 for the common variety and `1,180 for grade A.He said the State should also announce a price on the lines of Tamil Nadu.