Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has announced in the assembly that the government would introduce e-procurement of paddy from farmers.

The scheme, which will cost Rs 13.43 crore, will be implemented this year, the Chief Minister said. She told the Assembly that the e-procurement scheme would be implemented in the current year at a cost of Rs. 13.43 crore. Since the procurement process is not computerised, currently the payment is not being credited to the account of farmers through ECS.

“Now, direct procurement centres will get point-of-sale machine, computer, printer and electronic weighing scale and it would result in improving the efficiency of procurement centres”, she said.

Farmers could register details including their name, land, area of cultivation, harvest period and mobile number at the procurement centres.

“They will receive information on procurement and need not wait at the centres. After procurement, details about payment, movement of paddy and the area godown will be published on the website. Farmers will get a receipt and the amount will be credited to their account through ECS”, she said.