Three central government teams have arrived in Tamil Nadu to inspect paddy procurement operations after the state government requested permission to procure paddy with 22% moisture content—an increase from the usual 17% limit—due to widespread rain damage during the Kharif season.
The teams, comprised of officials from the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, will visit key agriculture districts, especially the Cauvery Delta, from October 25 to 27 to assess the situation.The assessment comes after farmers reported that persistent rainfall has made it impossible to dry harvested paddy to the usual moisture standards.
The central teams will inspect procurement centers, interact with farmers, and review paddy samples across multiple districts including Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Trichy, Pudukottai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Madurai, Theni, and Cuddalore.
The collected paddy samples will be tested at Food Corporation of India labs in the state, and the teams’ findings will be compiled in a detailed report to decide if the procurement norms can be temporarily relaxed.This visit follows criticism over delays in paddy procurement at direct purchase centers, as many farmers’ harvests are in danger of going unsold due to high moisture content. Opposition leaders have also highlighted storage and transportation issues at procurement centers.
The Tamil Nadu government has emphasized protecting farmers’ interests and maintaining continuous procurement, as damaged crops and submergence have caused distress across major agricultural zones.
The central teams will conclude their inspections with meetings in Chennai with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and top state officials before returning to Delhi to submit their recommendations.
The final decision by the Union government will determine whether Tamil Nadu receives the necessary relaxation in procurement norms to help safeguard farmers’ incomes this season.