Tamil Nadu Cooperation Secretary Conducts Two-Day Review of Paddy Procurement Operations
K S Palanisamy, the Secretary of Cooperation, Food, and Consumer Protection for Tamil Nadu, undertook a comprehensive two-day inspection of the ongoing paddy procurement and movement processes in the key delta districts of the state. The high-level review aimed to assess the efficiency of operations and ensure the seamless flow of agricultural produce from farms to storage facilities.
District-Wide Inspections and Key Directives
Palanisamy visited Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts on Monday, followed by Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai on Tuesday. During his visits, he held detailed meetings at the respective district collectorates and personally reviewed procurement activities at the Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs), as well as the subsequent movement of paddy to warehouses and hulling mills.
The secretary issued clear directives to officials, emphasizing the need for each DPC to procure approximately 1,000 bags of paddy daily, given the steadily increasing inflow to these centres across the districts. He stressed the importance of transporting the procured paddy promptly from the DPCs to warehouses and hulling mills to prevent any congestion in the supply chain and ensure timely processing.
Operational Scale and Procurement Statistics
A total of 1,459 DPCs are currently operational across these four delta districts, with a detailed breakdown as follows: 540 centres each in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, 195 in Nagapattinam, and 184 in Mayiladuthurai. So far, the cumulative procurement has reached an impressive 2.9 lakh tonnes of paddy from these areas, highlighting the significant agricultural output of the region.
According to data provided by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC), the daily procurement rates are substantial: approximately 12,000 tonnes in Thanjavur district, 10,000 tonnes in Tiruvarur, 4,000 tonnes in Mayiladuthurai, and 2,500 tonnes in Nagapattinam. In terms of movement, around 10,000 tonnes of procured paddy are transported daily to warehouses and hulling mills in Thanjavur, 8,000 tonnes in Tiruvarur, 3,000 tonnes in Mayiladuthurai, and 2,000 tonnes in Nagapattinam.
Official Oversight and Future Implications
Managing Director of TNCSC, A Annadurai, accompanied Secretary Palanisamy during the inspections, underscoring the coordinated effort between state departments and the civil supplies corporation. This proactive review is expected to enhance procurement efficiency, support farmers by ensuring timely purchases, and maintain a robust supply chain for essential food grains, contributing to food security in Tamil Nadu.
