A crucial meeting involving key stakeholders was convened in Thanjavur on Monday to lay the groundwork for the upcoming samba paddy procurement season. The gathering brought together farmers from eight crucial districts, state ministers, and government officials to address concerns and streamline the procurement process.
Stakeholders Unite to Address Procurement Challenges
Presided over by Thanjavur District Collector B. Priyanka Pankajam, the consultative meeting saw active participation from cultivators representing the districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Trichy, Pudukottai, and Ariyalur. The farmers, who have cultivated samba and thaladi paddy across more than 4 lakh hectares, raised pressing issues they face during procurement.
Their primary demands focused on ensuring a seamless process by tackling recurring problems. They called for concrete steps to prevent shortages of essential resources, which have plagued past seasons. The specific concerns highlighted included:
- Inadequate staffing at procurement centres.
- Shortage of paddy threshing machines.
- Lack of sufficient tarpaulins for covering produce.
- Deficiency of gunny bags for storage and transport.
High-Level Government Participation and Preparedness
The meeting witnessed significant political and bureaucratic engagement. A host of state ministers were present, including K N Nehru (Municipal Administration), M R K Panneerselvam (Agriculture), K R Periyakaruppan (Cooperation), T R B Raja (Industries), Govi Chezhian (Higher Education), Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi (School Education), S S Sivasankar (Transport), Siva V Meyyanathan (Backward Classes Welfare), and C V Ganesan (Labour Welfare). Members of Parliament, Legislative Assembly, and senior department secretaries also attended.
Outlining the government's preparations, Food and Civil Supplies Minister R Sakkarapani provided key statistics. He stated that 1,943 procurement centres are currently operational. Since the season began on September 1, a substantial 14.83 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured as of December 26. This marks a significant increase from the 5.31 lakh tonnes procured on the corresponding date last year.
Logistics and Targets for the Samba Season
For the imminent samba procurement season, the state machinery is gearing up on a large scale. Minister Sakkarapani announced plans to open a vast network of 4,706 procurement centres. This operation will be supported by a workforce of 8,056 employees.
To address the farmers' concerns directly, the government has mobilized substantial resources. The preparations include arranging 3,914 paddy threshing machines, 54,715 tarpaulins, and a massive 4.52 crore gunny bags. In a move to enhance daily procurement, officials have also extended working hours at the centres. The procurement timing has been stretched from 6 pm to 8 pm, with a daily target set at 1,000 bags per centre.
The Delta farmers are set to begin selling their samba and thaladi produce at the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) direct procurement centres starting from January. This high-level meeting underscores the administration's focus on ensuring a smooth and efficient procurement season, crucial for the livelihood of thousands of farmers in the region.
