Farmers in Chengalpattu district are currently grappling with significant difficulties due to incessant rainfall, which has severely hampered their ability to adequately dry their harvested paddy crops. On Saturday, a dedicated team of Central government officials visited the region, where local farmers made an impassioned appeal for a relaxation of the current moisture content standards for paddy procurement.
District Collector D. Sneha confirmed that Chengalpattu operates a network of 72 Direct Paddy Procurement Centers (DPCs) managed by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, along with five additional centers run by the NCCF. These facilities are presently procuring paddy with a maximum moisture content of 17% during the ongoing Sornavari season.
During their inspection, the Central Committee meticulously visited five key DPCs located in various areas: Keerapakkam in Thirukazhukundram, Oragadam in Thiruporur, Villiyampakkam in Kattankulathur, and S. N. Puram and Padalam in Maduranthakam. At each location, officials carefully collected paddy samples for further analysis and assessment.
R. Muralimohan, secretary of the Chengalpattu District Farmers Association, underscored the farmers’ predicament, explaining that continuous downpours have made natural drying impossible. He highlighted that larger facilities like rice mills and warehouses operated by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) possess superior drying capabilities. Many farmers currently have large quantities of paddy exceeding the 17% moisture threshold waiting at the DPCs. The association expressed strong optimism that the Central government would empathize with their situation and implement the necessary adjustments to procurement policies, ensuring their harvest is accepted.