TIRUVARUR: Despite heavy rains lashing the district when Cyclone Thane crossed Tamil Nadu, Tiruvarur district has recorded an increased harvest this year, compared to last year. The early release of Cauvery water from the Mettur dam has facilitated this increase in harvest. informed Food Minister R Kamaraj at a meeting here on Saturday.He said 4.38 lakh tonnes of paddy have been harvested during this samba and thaladi season.Addressing the function, he said, till date the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) had opened 415 direct procurement centres (DPCs) and two mobile units for the benefit of farmers and farmers have so far sold paddy worth Rs 587 crore through the DPCs.Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had ordered procurement of TKM paddy, a variety generally not procured in the earlier regime, he pointed out.Over 1.97 lakh tonnes of the TKM variety had been procured, to be stored in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts. The early release of Cauvery water had paved the way for a good harvest in the entire region despite Thane and the monsoon rains.Farmers, especially in Nannilam and Thiruthuraipoondi taluks, are on cloud nine despite last minute obstacles during the season. At certain DPCs, the minister ordered officials to increase the procurement level from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.Crops suffered minor damage in January because of the monsoon rains. However, the Agriculture Department stepped in and provided valuable inputs to farmers and advised them to make use of fertiliser and urea to bring back normality, he added. Later, at a freebie distribution function, Kamaraj gave away free mixers, grinders and fans to 560 beneficiaries in Kottur and Muthupettai.
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