COVID-19: TN CM announces sops for farmers, traders

Chennai, Apr 7 (): In view of ongoing curbs tofight coronavirus, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami onTuesday announced sops to farmers, which include waiver ofcold storage user fee and facilitation in marketing andlogistics.

Besides, loans upto Rs 10 lakh would be offerred tofarmer producer firms aimed at benefiting both ryots andconsumers.

Palaniswami exempted traders from paying one per centmarket fee for procuring farm produce from farmers as part ofefforts to ensure reasonable prices for consumers.

The Chief Minister also said 500 vans would be deployedadditionally to sell vegetables and fruits to peoplein urban neighbourhoods.

"In case farmers faced difficulties in taking theirproduce to the markets and selling them, they could contactthe Deputy Director of Agriculture (agri-business) in theirrespective districts," an official release here said andlisted their contact numbers besides the state helplinenumbers, including 044-22253884. The officials would render assistance to farmers incontacting traders to sell their produce, get permission fromthe district administration for logisitcs and guidance inregard to cold storage amenities. "Considering the present circumstances and in view ofexpectations that mango production is likely to increasein 15 days, cold storge user fee shall not be leviedfor farmers till April 30 and the government will bear it,"the release said.

Cold storage units are used by farmers to store theirproduce, including vegetables.

Select farmer producer companies would be provided loansupto Rs 10 lakh for direct procurement from farmers to ensurefair price for ryots and quality produce for the people atreasonable prices, the government said.

Also, the 500 vans would be additionally deployed by thehorticulture department to sell vegetables and fruits intheir localities which would help hassle-free availability tothe people.

Presently, traders pay a market fee of one per cent when they buy a string of farm produce including paddy,millets, groundnut, onion, cashewnut and tamarind fromfarmers.

In view of restrictions due to COVID-19 and to ensureavailability to people at reasonable prices, tradersneed not pay the one per cent market fee till April 30,the government said. VGN NVG NVG