Paddy crisis solved: Supplyco to lift paddy

Thiruvananthapuram: The crisis faced by cooperative societies because of the unlifting of paddy procured by them from the farmers in Kerala was solved at a conference convened by the State Government here.

As per the understanding reached at the conference, the State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) will begin lifting of paddy from the societies from tomorrow for milling, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adoor Prakash told mediapersons after the conference.

The societies and the Supplyco had reached an understanding on the prices of the paddy, he said by not mentioning what would be the prices. However, Prakash made it clear that the societies would not have to incur any loss on account of the procurement. He said the societies would also be allowed to supply rice to the Supplyco for which the price had been fixed at Rs 11.5 per kg.

Prakash said after milling the paddy, the rice would be distributed through the public distribution system by the Food Corporation of India. He said the supplyco would take paddy from societies in five districts and send it to rice mills for milling. About 50,000 tonnes of paddy remained unlifted with the societies in these districts.