Tamil Nadu Rice Mill Owners Association functionaries at a press meet in Madurai on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
G. MOORTHY
The Tamil Nadu Rice Mill Owners Association has urged the public not to resort to panic buying of rice due to rumours circulating on social media regarding a shortage in the State.
During a press meet held in Mumbai on Sunday, association leaders clarified while there had been a reduction in cultivation caused by the Super El Niño effect, the situation is not alarming and adequate reserves remain in stock.
Association president M.R. Dinesh Singh explained that the generally preferred fine-quality rice (sannarisi)—which is minimally cultivated within Tamil Nadu and mostly procured from neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka—has seen lower yields due to changing climatic patterns driven by the El Niño effect.
“It is true that the prices have gone up specifically for the fine rice quality, but other varieties like ‘ganaragam’ remain the same,” he added.
However, Mr. Singh clarified the elevated prices are expected to decrease gradually following positive cultivation outcomes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as well as the upcoming North-East monsoon.
“Though the Kuruvai cultivation is a failure this year, these positive developments will definitely control the prices before January,” he said.
As cultivation was affected and shortage indicators emerged, traders and farmers began purchasing rice in large numbers from neighbouring states, which subsequently triggered high demand and price increases, he observed.
To counter such challenges in future, Mr. Singh said the Tamil Nadu government—which, according to him, has not taken active steps toward promoting the cultivation of fine-quality rice varieties locally—should initiate research and development efforts to boost the State production.
“As people 15 years ago moved largely from coarse varieties to fine-quality rice varieties, the cultivation in the State could not match the need. This caused the import from neighbouring States,” he recalled.
Once fine varieties start growing successfully on Tamil Nadu land, the State can effectively manage any future shortages or scarcities, he said.
Another major demand raised by the association was the provision of adequate facilities for farmers to dry their paddy and store it for future usage.
Mr. Singh alleged although farmers are levied a 1% service tax, market committees are failing to provide sufficient facilities to store their produce.
“When this is provided and the tax is collected, it will be beneficial for the farmers and buyers too. Now the tax collected is an extra burden on the farmers,” he said.
K. Rajendran, secretary of the association, speaking on promoting the cultivation of fine-quality varieties in Tamil Nadu, stated that the government through agricultural institutions should start research on developing drought-resistant fine varieties.
“This should also include finding the right places like along the Cauvery delta regions, providing incentives and subsidies to farmers to cultivate fine-quality rice, akin to Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
Mr. Rajendran urged the public not to hoard rice, emphasising the panic created by social media influencers is fake and that sufficient buffer stocks are currently available.
Published – October 11, 2026 06:28 pm IST
