The Tamil Nadu Co-operative Marketing Federation Limited (Tanfed) has been notified as the State-level designated marketing agency in Tamil Nadu to undertake copra procurement under the price support scheme for the 2012 season, according to the orders issued by the Tamil Nadu Government through the Food and Consumer Protection Department.

Accordingly, Tanfed will procure milling copra at the rate of Rs 5,100 a quintal (Rs 51/kg) and ball copra at the rate of Rs 5,350 a quintal (Rs 53.50/kg) under the price support scheme for 2012.

Earlier, the Union Government had announced the minimum support price for procurement of copra under Price Support Scheme (PSS) on February 3. Based on the order, the Registrar of Co-operative societies had requested Tanfed to start procurement operations in Tamil Nadu immediately. Nafed, the national level nodal agency will also enter into an agreement with Tanfed for the procurement as was done earlier, a press release issued here said.

Meanwhile, Mr Rajeev Gupta, Managing Director of Nafed, visited the Coconut Development Board and held discussions on procurement operations during 2012 season with Mr T.K. Jose, Chairman, CDB and senior officers of the Board. The visit assumes significance in view of the continuous fall in the prices of milling copra and coconut in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Mr Gupta assured all support of Nafed for expediting the procurement operations agencies under minimum support price.

sajeevkumar@thehindu.co.in