Central teams assess paddy moisture level in Tiruchi, Pudukkottai, and Thanjavur

Central government teams visited Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Tiruchi districts on Sunday to assess the moisture content in paddy stocks following continuous rain under the influence of the Northeast monsoon. Farmers across the Cauvery delta have urged the teams to ensure the release of the moisture content relaxation report without delay to facilitate smooth procurement.

State’s request

The visit comes after the Tamil Nadu government requested the Centre for permission to procure paddy with a moisture level of up to 22%, citing the impact of the rain.

A team, led by P.K. Singh, Deputy Director of the Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute, Ludhiana, along with Technical Officers Shobhit Siwach and Rakesh Barala, inspected the Aalakkudi direct procurement centre in Thanjavur district in the morning. Samples were collected from the paddy bags.

Farmers gathered at the site urged the officials to release the report at the earliest. “Every year during the ‘Kuruvai’ and ‘Samba’ seasons, the moisture level rises owing to the rain. But there is always a delay in decision-making. This time, we want the report to be released immediately,” a farmer said.

Senior officials, including Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) Managing Director A. Annadurai and Collector P. Priyanka Pankajam, accompanied the team, which also visited the procurement centres at Raramuthirai Kottai, Telungan Kudikaadu, and Keel Koilpathu.

Another team held inspections in Tiruchi district, starting with  Valadi taluk. It visited procurement centres at Valadi, Poovalur,  Komangudi, and Koppavalli. The team, comprising R.K. Shahi, Deputy Director (S&R), Department of Food and Public Distribution, and Technical Officers Rahul Sharma and Tanij Sharma, interacted with officials and farmers, inspected stocks, and collected samples. Officials of the TNCSC and the district administration accompanied them. The same team went to Pudukkottai in the afternoon and inspected the procurement centres at Kallakottai, Banduvakottai, Raghunathapuram,  Thattamanipatti, and Kulathur Nayakarpalli in Gandarvakkottai taluk. It assessed the moisture level in the paddy, analysed procurement delays, and recorded farmers’ concerns.

Common demand

In all three districts, farmers made a common demand: that the Centre authorise the State government to decide on moisture content relaxation because the delay in the Centre’s approval affected procurement and their livelihood.

With nearly 6.5 lakh acres of ‘Kuruvai’ paddy cultivated in the delta this year and 80% of the harvest completed, thousands of tonnes of paddy has been lying in the open for weeks because of inadequate transport. The rain has increased the moisture level to above 17%.

The Central team visited six direct procurement centres in Tiruvallur  district. The moisture content in the paddy samples lifted ranged between 20% and 22%. Farmers told the team that they were unable to let the paddy dry naturally owing to the continuous rain.

Collector M. Prathap told presspersons later that 69 direct procurement centres in the district had collected 58,320 tonnes of paddy from 7,866 farmers. “We expect to procure 15,000 more tonnes from 2,726 farmers,” the Collector added.

So far, the district has settled ₹125 crore in dues to farmers and collected paddy worth ₹126 crore.

“In the ‘Sornavari’ season, 26,436 hectares of land was under paddy cultivation. Farmers are being paid ₹2,545 per quintal for fine varieties and ₹2,500 per quintal for others. We will settle the rest within 10 days. Settlements are being made within 3-6 days,” Mr. Prathap said.