Thirukovilur
A Tamil Nadu government regulated sales hall is functioning at Aragandanallur near Thirukovilur. Farmers not only from Villupuram but also from Kallakurichi district bring their produce here for sale.
In this situation, the arrival of paddy has been increasing continuously for the past one month at the Aragandanallur regulatory sales hall. Traders said that about 75 thousand bags of paddy have been sold in this one month only. On the part of the traders, they said that the main reason for this is that the price of the small variety is higher than the price offered to the farmers at the government direct paddy procurement stations.
When the farmers say about the direct paddy procurement station, when the government takes the harvested paddy to the direct paddy procurement station, they deduct 10 to 20 kg per bag saying that there is moisture in the paddy, dust and debris. This causes huge losses. Similarly, a maximum of Rs.85 per bundle has to be paid as bribe and other expenses for changing sacks and weighing. After completing all these tasks, it takes a week to 10 days to get the money. That is why we take the paddy bags to the regular sale hall. Traders also compete and purchase so we get good prices. They said that the money will be available in 2 or 3 days at most.