Godowns go full, purchase centers call it a day
Owing to shortage of space in godowns in Kodagu district, the Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation has stopped purchasing paddy, at support price announced by the government. 
Within a month after the Corporation started purchasing paddy at support price announced by the government, the godowns in Madikeri, Kushalanagr and Gonikoppa are full. As a result, the authorities are not purchasing paddy from the farmers.
The Central government had announced support price of Rs 1,080 per quintal for ordinary paddy and Rs 1,110 for a quintal for ‘A’ grade paddy.
In the meantime, the State government had decided to provide Rs 250 per quintal paddy. As a result, the farmers will get Rs 1,330 per quintal for ordinary paddy and 1,360 per quintal for ‘A’ grade paddy.
The farmers who sell paddy in the open market are earning only Rs 750 to Rs 850 per quintal. As a result, the farmers are in distress in Kodagu. As per agriculture department, 1.30 lakh tonne of paddy has been grown in the district. With the steep fall in the price of paddy, the farmers have no other option other but to sell at the purchasing centre. The Corporation has purchased 14,000 quintal paddy at support price. The remaining one lakh tonne paddy are still with the farmers.
Lack of space
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation District Manager Jayadeva Arasu said that the Corporation does not have own godown in the district. “We have hired APMC godown on rent. All the gowdowns are full. Hence, we have stopped purchasing paddy from farmers.”
The space would be available after shifting the paddy to the rice mill. Tenders have been invited from the mills to produce rice.
The last date for submitting the tender is February 3. The tender will be opened on February 4. If district administration fails to act, then paddy will not be purchased for another 15 to 20 days. The support price for paddy will be in force till March 31, he said.
