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In a statement, he said around 70% of the 6.13 lakh acres of paddy fields was harvested but only 40% of the harvest had been procured so far

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday said the State government should strive to reduce the losses for farmers due to kuruvai paddy being ‘left in the rain’, and procure the currently stored paddy within next week. In a statement, he said around 70% of the 6.13 lakh acres of paddy fields was harvested but only 40% of the harvest had been procured so far. “With rain pouring across the Cauvery-irrigated districts, there is a danger that the unharvested grains in the fields will fall and germinate, forcing farmers to expedite their harvesting efforts. It is expected that kuruvai harvesting will be completed entirely within the next week, and additional paddy being brought in is at risk of being left at procurement centres and getting soaked and ruined by rain. What is the DMK government going to do to prevent that?” he asked. Dr. Anbumani said that State government should have ensured that it pressed the Centre if there was a delay on their part in issuing guidelines to procure enriched rice. “However, the Tamil Nadu government took 71 days to finalise tenders to procure the enriched rice after the Centre issued those guidelines on July 29. It is the government’s duty to take all measures necessary to procure kuruvai paddy grown during the kuruvai season without harming farmers. It is unbecoming of the government to fail in that duty and try to absolve itself of responsibility by giving excuses,” he said.

Source : thehindu