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Chennai, Oct 20 (IANS) With the Kuruvai harvest almost complete, farmers in the Cauvery delta are struggling to procure their paddy as the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) has failed to ensure proper planning and coordination.
Thousands of tonnes of paddy piled up outside direct procurement centers (DPCs) have been lost to monsoon rains due to poor transportation, shortage of gunny bags and lack of pre-season consultation with farmers.
This year’s Kuruvai cultivation has been one of the most extensive in recent times, with 6.31 lakh acres under cultivation – a sharp increase from the normal 3.87 lakh acres.
With only 30 per cent of the crop left to be harvested, procurement is far behind expectations. Of the 70 per cent already harvested, only 40 per cent has been lifted by TNCSC, leaving huge stocks at various centres.
Each DPC is estimated to contain 10,000 to 20,000 chippoms (40-kg bags) of paddy, creating congestion and logistical challenges. The delay has been attributed to administrative instability within TNCSC, which saw the transfer of five managing directors between January and October this year.
The leadership void affected critical decision making during the peak procurement phase, especially in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts – the heart of the delta region.
Shortage of gunny bags has increased the problems of farmers. Despite official claims that stocks are being replenished through fresh purchases from West Bengal, the situation on the ground remains critical, with most DPCs reporting inadequate supplies.
The shortage has slowed packing and dispatch operations, further delaying transportation to warehouses. In many areas, paddy is being stored in open spaces as the temporary DPCs have not been fully activated.
Due to limited lorries available for movement from DPC to warehouses, the procurement staff has managed to lift only 500 to 600 bags per day against the target of 1,000 bags.
Incessant rains across the delta have exacerbated the crisis, with reports of paddy stocks at several centers overflowing due to prolonged exposure to moisture.
Farmers, exhausted after months of farming, have become worried and frustrated and are spending days in front of the DPC waiting for procurement. They have appealed to the government to expedite procurement immediately after Diwali, to ensure that their hard-earned produce is saved from further losses as the Northeast monsoon intensifies.
–IANS
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