In a significant move to support its agricultural sector, the Tamil Nadu government has extended the operating hours of its Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs) by an additional two hours, now running until 8 p.m. This extension, announced in an official release, aims to facilitate the daily procurement of approximately 1,000 bags of paddy from each center.
To cope with the high volume of paddy requiring procurement, DPCs are now open on Sundays as well. The government has detailed several ongoing initiatives to streamline paddy procurement, particularly in the fertile Cauvery delta region, underscoring its commitment to farmers.
As of October 19, a total of 5,510 metric tons (MT) of paddy had already been procured. Furthermore, the Cauvery delta region boasts substantial reserves, including over 57.63 lakh gunny bags, 58 MT of jute twine, and more than 28,800 tarpaulin sheets. Across the entire state, an impressive 2.65 crore gunny bags are readily available.
Recognizing the particularly high yield in Tiruvarur district, 20 dedicated teams have been established to guarantee the swift transport of paddy from the DPCs. Daily, about 35,000 MT of paddy are moved to warehouses using approximately 4,000 lorries and 13 to 15 trains.
Additional personnel have been deployed to Tiruvarur district to further enhance procurement efforts. The procurement drive commenced on September 1, reflecting the government’s proactive approach to benefiting farmers. Since this date, 10.40 lakh MT of paddy have been procured through 1,843 DPCs.
Out of the total 10.40 lakh MT procured, 8.77 lakh MT have been successfully transported to other districts, while 1.63 lakh MT remain securely stored at the DPCs. Significant quantities are awaiting movement from various districts: 53,831 MT in Tiruvarur, 23,125 MT in Thanjavur, 16,793 MT in Mayiladuthurai, and 21,537 MT in Nagapattinam.
From October 21 onwards, efforts to move the paddy have intensified, with roughly 7,000 MT transported by four trains from Thanjavur, 9,000-10,000 MT by five trains from Tiruvarur, about 4,000 MT by two trains from Mayiladuthurai, and over 2,000 MT by one train from Nagapattinam. Plans are in place to transport approximately 48,000 MT from Tiruvarur district alone.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin personally reviewed the paddy storage and movement situation on October 2, leading to the formation of monitoring teams in every taluk. The Food Minister and other officials also conducted field inspections on October 10 and 11 to oversee these operations.
Following a direct request from the Chief Secretary to the Southern Railway’s General Manager, the railway has sanctioned 13 additional freight trains specifically for transporting procured paddy from the Cauvery delta region. Moreover, three expert committees have arrived in Tamil Nadu to consider the government’s request to ease the permissible moisture content for paddy procurement, seeking a relaxation from 17% to 22%.
Since 2021, Direct Procurement Centres in Tamil Nadu have facilitated the procurement of a staggering 1.70 crore MT of paddy, averaging about 42.61 lakh MT annually, highlighting the consistent support provided to farmers.