Cauvery Delta farmers call for early procurement of kuruvai paddy

The Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that procurement of ‘kuruvai’ paddy begins from September 1, instead of October 1, at the minimum support price announced for the 2025-26 season.

In a resolution passed at its meeting of State and district-level principal office-bearers in Thanjavur on Tuesday, August 12, it was pointed out that the harvesting of ‘kuruvai’ crop began during the first week of September and a majority of the cropped area got harvested by the end of the month. Hence, it would be beneficial to farmers if the procurement season was advanced by a month, and the State government must issue a Government Order in this regard as early as possible.

Expressing its displeasure over relinquishment of ‘open storage’ concept by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, the Sangam, in another resolution, claimed that the paddy procured by the Corporation was exposed to the natural elements as the bags were stored on the direct procurement centre premises itself. This practice and other issues in the process of procurement caused hardships to farmers when they brought the produce for measuring at the DPCs.

The State government must initiate steps for smooth and speedy procurement of paddy at the new price and ensure safe storage, it added.

Other resolutions opposing the introduction of genetically modified paddy seeds in delta districts, initiation of steps for construction of a dam across Cauvery river at Rasimanal, as agreed in principle by the present Tamil Nadu government, and declaring the preliminary works taken up by the Karnataka government with respect to Mekedatu dam project as illegal were also passed at the meeting.

Later, a demonstration urging the Tamil Nadu government to procure ‘kuruvai’ paddy at the new price from September 1 was organised by the Sangam on the Thanjavur District Collectorate campus.