Need to open adequate number of DPCs stressed

Farmers stressed the need to open more number of direct purchase centers in Madurai district, at the farmers’ grievance redress meeting held at the Collectorate on Friday.

At the meeting presided over by Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar, the farmers said more number of direct purchase centres should be opened for the benefit of the farmers and necessary steps taken to desilt waterbodies, particularly the Periyar canal.

If necessary steps were not taken, agriculture in the region would be affected, they said. The farmers continued to raise their concern over the irregularities in the functioning of the DPCs in the district. They also complained about corrupt practices.

A section of farmers urged the State to drop the plan of reducing the number of horticultural officers and merge them with the Agriculture Department. The authorities said through such move necessary assistance will be provided to the farmers. The farmers also demanded that coconut be directly procured from them.