The Tamil Nadu government has announced a significant expansion of its paddy procurement efforts, with each Direct Procurement Centre (DPC) now acquiring around 1,000 bags of paddy daily. To facilitate this increased collection, operating hours have been extended by two hours, running until 8 p.m. To further enhance efficiency, an additional 127 point-of-purchase (POP) machines have been deployed across 13 districts experiencing high procurement volumes.
Recognizing the abundant paddy harvest, Direct Procurement Centres have also been operating on Sundays. This move is part of a broader initiative by the government to streamline paddy acquisition from farmers, particularly those in the fertile Cauvery delta region.
By October 19, a substantial 5,510 metric tonnes of paddy had already been procured. The state has also ensured ample logistical support, with over 57.63 lakh gunny bags, 58 metric tonnes of jute twine, and more than 28,800 tarpaulin sheets reserved for the Cauvery delta region alone. Across the entire state, approximately 2.65 crore gunny bags are readily available.
Given the high yield in Tiruvarur district, 20 specialized teams have been formed to guarantee the swift and smooth transportation of paddy from DPCs. Currently, about 35,000 metric tonnes of paddy are being moved to warehouses daily using approximately 4,000 lorries and 13 to 15 trains.
To bolster the procurement drive in Tiruvarur district, additional manpower has been assigned. This procurement process has been actively underway since September 1, directly benefiting thousands of farmers. Since the beginning of September, a total of 10.40 lakh metric tonnes of paddy have been procured through 1,843 Direct Procurement Centres.
Of the 10.40 lakh metric tonnes acquired, 8.77 lakh metric tonnes have been successfully transported to other districts for storage and processing, while 1.63 lakh metric tonnes are securely stored within the Direct Procurement Centres. Significant quantities still awaiting movement include 53,831 metric tonnes in Tiruvarur, 23,125 metric tonnes in Thanjavur, 16,793 metric tonnes in Mayiladuthurai, and 21,537 metric tonnes in Nagapattinam.
Since October 21, the movement of paddy has accelerated, with roughly 7,000 metric tonnes dispatched on four trains from Thanjavur, 9,000-10,000 metric tonnes on five trains from Tiruvarur, 4,000 metric tonnes on two trains from Mayiladuthurai, and over 2,000 metric tonnes on one train from Nagapattinam. Plans are in motion to transport an additional 48,000 metric tonnes from Tiruvarur district.
The Chief Minister personally reviewed the storage and movement of procured paddy on October 2, leading to the formation of dedicated teams in every taluk to oversee these critical operations. The Food Minister and other key officials also conducted field inspections on October 10 and 11 to ensure everything was running smoothly.
Following a direct request from the Chief Secretary to the General Manager of the Southern Railway, the Railway has sanctioned 13 additional freight trains to the Cauvery delta region, further boosting the capacity for paddy transport. Moreover, three expert committees have arrived in Tamil Nadu to assess the state government’s request to relax the permissible moisture content for procurement from 17% to 22%, a crucial consideration for farmers during certain harvest conditions.
Since 2021, the state has procured an impressive 1.70 crore metric tonnes of paddy through its Direct Procurement Centres, averaging around 42.61 lakh metric tonnes annually, underscoring the consistent efforts to support the agricultural sector.