Kharif season sets in under price support scheme

Around 124,624 hectare paddy crop has been ready to harvest in Mysuru during the current 2014-15 monsoon season, according to Deputy Commissioner C Shikha.

Availability of farm labour to harvest the crop has become an issue. Use of machinery to harvest the crop has become necessary in view of shortage of man-power. Besides, area of paddy coverage has also gone up, she said on Sunday.

Last year, machinery owners collected between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,400 an hour from farmers to cut the crops. Due to the increase in cultivation cost and fall in diesel prices compared to last year, she has announced fixation of rate for these harvesting machines. In her order, the deputy commissioner has fixed Rs 1,250 for tyre-type combine harvesters and Rs 2,150 for chain-type combine harvesters for the current monsoon season and will be in force till further orders.

The rate has been fixed taking into consideration the interests of both the farmers and machinery owners as discussed at a joint meeting with them, commission agents, police, transport and agriculture department, Shikha said.

Meanwhile, with the opening of a purchase centre in the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) premises, the process of purchasing quality ragi, hybrid maize and paddy in Mysuru taluk for 2014-15 khariff season has been set in motion under the under the price-support scheme of the state government.

Shikha had said last week that farmers could begin selling the foodgrain at the purchase centres immediately. A purchase centre for Mysuru has been opened, accordingly. The Mysuru Taluk Tahsildar on Sunday said farmers could now sell grains at APMC purchase centre.

While jowar will be bought at Mysuru and Nanjangud APMC yards, the other three grains will be bought at Mysuru APMC at Bandipalya, APM Nanjangud, T Narasipur, Hunsur, K R Nagar, Saragur and H D Kote APMC yards in Mysuru district, where purchase centres have been opened.

The Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, Mysuru, will be the purchasing agency. The duration for paddy purchase will be three months from December 22 to March 21 and for hybrid maize it will be two months from December 22 to February 21.

While purchasing from small and marginal farmers, it has been compulsorily limited to not exceed a maximum of 50 quintals.

The support price will be Rs 2,000 for ragi per quintal, Rs 2,000 for jowar, Rs 1,360 for ordinary paddy, Rs 1,400 for 'A' grade paddy.

The rate for hybrid maize is fixed at Rs 1,100 and if the Centre releases subsidy, Rs 210 will be refunded.

Merchants cannot not buy grains below the support price fixed by the government. They should compulsorily use electronic meters. Action will be taken in case of cheating either in respect of the rate or measurement, Shikha cautioned.