Farmers of Kannamangalam near Ilayangudi opposing to set up a Direct Procurement Centre (DPC) in their village submitted a petition with the District Collector K. Porkodi here on Monday.
Villagers said, paddy cultivation failed completely in their areas due to inadequate rainfall. To address the situation, in November last year, a resolution was passed in the Grama Sabha meeting to declare their village a drought affected area.
“On January 26, another resolution was passed stating that since crops had withered due to drought, a paddy procurement centre should not be established this year,” they added.
Despite these resolutions, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation was reportedly taking steps to set up a DPC in Kannamangalam, allegedly following pressure from ruling party members.
Villagers feared that if a procurement centre was opened, it would create a false impression that there was a successful harvest in the region. This could lead to the denial of drought relief and insurance claims, they claimed.
They also noted that the DPC in a crop-less area would only benefit private traders rather than local farmers. “If the procurement centre is not shifted to another location, we will launch a protest,” the villagers warned.
When questioned, officials from the Civil Supplies Corporation stated: “A paddy procurement centre is set up in this area every year. This year too, we are proceeding based on a report obtained from Agriculture Department officials.”
Published – February 02, 2026 09:09 pm IST
