Paddy Procurement – Delta Farmers Seek Faster Stock Movement as Harvest Nears Completion
Paddy Procurement – Farmers across the Cauvery Delta have appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to accelerate the procurement process and ensure that paddy already purchased from growers is transported without delay from Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs). They say the slow movement of stocks has created heavy congestion at procurement locations, making it difficult for fresh arrivals to be accepted during the ongoing summer harvest.
Large Quantities of Paddy Await Transportation
With harvesting activities for the summer paddy season almost coming to an end throughout the Delta region, cultivators have raised concerns about thousands of paddy bags remaining at open procurement centres for several days. According to farmers, the prolonged storage of grain in open spaces increases the possibility of deterioration due to weather exposure. They also believe that delayed transportation is affecting the smooth functioning of procurement operations, leaving many producers waiting longer to sell their harvested crop.
Procurement Operations Continue Until August
The short-duration summer paddy crop was cultivated over nearly 1.60 lakh acres across the Cauvery Delta after sowing began in April. Government procurement started during the final week of June and is expected to continue until August. To strengthen the procurement network, authorities established Point of Procurement centres alongside existing Direct Procurement Centres, with each facility designed to purchase up to 1,000 bags of paddy per day.
Farmer Groups Report Decline in Daily Procurement
Representatives of farmer organisations have claimed that the pace of procurement has slowed noticeably in recent weeks. They stated that several centres which initially handled nearly 1,000 bags each day are now accepting only around 500 to 600 bags. According to them, the slowdown is mainly linked to delays in transporting procured paddy from procurement centres to warehouses managed by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC), followed by onward movement to hulling mills for processing.
They noted that in previous seasons, paddy stocks were usually shifted soon after procurement, helping centres continue accepting fresh arrivals without interruption. This year, however, they say the movement of stocks has been considerably slower, leading to the accumulation of large quantities at open storage locations.
Storage Backlog Affecting Fresh Purchases
Farmer representatives also alleged that procurement staff have become cautious about receiving additional paddy because available storage space at many centres has already been filled with unsent stocks. As a result, several cultivators are reportedly keeping harvested paddy on their own premises while waiting for procurement opportunities.
They described the situation as an administrative challenge, claiming that transportation of accumulated stocks to warehouses and hulling facilities has been delayed while officials await further instructions. Farmers believe that clearing the backlog at the earliest would help restore the normal pace of procurement and reduce pressure on collection centres.
Concerns Raised Across Multiple Delta Districts
According to farmer organisations, procurement centres in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai districts are witnessing similar conditions. They estimate that many centres currently have between 10,000 and 15,000 bags of procured paddy lying in open yards.
Farmers have warned that if these stocks continue to remain exposed for an extended period, the grain could experience weight reduction, colour changes and other quality-related issues. They have urged the state government to speed up the transportation of procured stocks so that procurement operations can continue smoothly and growers can sell their produce without unnecessary delays during the peak harvesting period.