Central teams inspect paddy at DPCs

Central teams inspect paddy procurement sites in Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts, assessing moisture levels post-rain damage.

Central teams comprising senior officials inspected paddy procurement sites and fields in Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts on Thursday. The investigation focused on assessing moisture levels in harvested paddy following unseasonal rains that caused crop damage.

In Mayiladuthurai, the team included Assistant Director Preethi from the Department of Food and Public Distribution and Technical Officer Abhishek Pandey. They were accompanied by Collector A.P. Mahabharathi during visits to Thiruvidhiyalattam, Keezhmathur, Aththukkudi, Semangalam, Valluvakudi, Kondal, Ilanthoppu, and Manalmedu. The officials also inspected rain-affected paddy fields in Memathur village.

Mr. Mahabharathi said the district received 22 cm of rainfall on January 18, which damaged paddy crops ready for harvest and increased moisture levels in the harvested grain. Samples were collected to assess moisture content and determine the extent of the damage.

In Nagapattinam, the central team comprised Assistant Director Naveen from the Ministry of Food Storage and Research and Technical Officer Raghul. They were joined by District Monitoring Officer and Tamil Nadu Food Corporation Limited Managing Director A. Ananadhurai and Collector P. Akash.

The team inspected Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation direct procurement centres in Eravanchery, Siyathamangai, Pattamangalam, Thevur, Manakkudi and other locations. Farmers submitted requests to approve procurement of paddy with up to 22% moisture content, citing challenges caused by heavy rains earlier this month.

The assessment comes in the wake of the State’s demand for increasing the ceiling for moisture content in paddy procured from farmers.