On-time release of water from Mettur and the sporadic rainfall led to adequate water availability for the farmers, who undertook kuruvai cultivation to witness a bumper harvest, resulting in a huge quantity of paddy being taken to the DPCs.

Besides, the State government had announced to procure a minimum of 1000 bags per day by each DPC. However, most of the centres maintained procuring between 600 and 700 bags. Officials also claimed that the moisture condition of paddy should be between 17 and 18 per cent, but it was higher than the required condition. They also attributed the delay to the shortage of gunny bags, leading the farmers to pile up paddies before the DPCs.

According to farmers’ associations, in Thanjavur, only 700 bags are procured per day and this has led to the accumulation of around 500 MT paddy in the district alone. In Tiruvarur, around 200 MT paddy has been accumulated. Similarly, in Pudukkottai and Nagapattinam have at least piled up 400 MT and 200 MT respectively.

President of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Association, PR Pandian said that as the monsoon is nearing, the procurement process should be completed otherwise, the entire paddy stocked before the DPCs would be damaged. He added that the new godown with a capacity of 60,000 MT constructed in Muthupettai is left without use as there is no approach road. The State government should approach the Centre to make use of the warehouses of the Food Corporation of India.