Mayiladuthurai Collector HS Srikanth inspects the condition of things at the direct purchase center in Manakkudi on Friday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
District administrations in the Cauvery delta have intensified paddy procurement operations, with top officials checking the state of affairs at direct purchase centers (DPCs) and storage facilities to ensure smooth movement of stocks amid this Kuruvai season’s harvest.
In Nagapattinam, TNCSC District Monitoring Officer and Managing Director A. Annadurai and District Collector P. Akash visited DPCs in Eesanur and Keelaiyur villages to review procurement and transport operations. Officials said 26,509 bags of paddy have been procured from Eesanur so far, including 455 bags on Thursday alone, while 20,512 bags have been procured from Keelaiyur. Stocks are being moved to godowns in a phased manner and adequate jute bags and storage space are available, officials said.
A 10-fold increase
Sources in the district administration said that so far this season, 72,736 tonnes of paddy has been collected from 14,600 farmers in Nagapattinam district and a total payment of ₹175.99 crore has been made directly into bank accounts. There are 124 DPCs in operation this year compared to 23 last year when the purchase was just 5,440 tonnes.
In Mayiladuthurai, Collector HS Srikanth inspected the centers at Manakkudi and Kidarankondan. As on October 23, the district procured 1.20 million tonnes from 24,688 farmers, while shifting over 1.01 million tonnes to storage or dispatch. The rail and road network is used to move 2,000 to 4,000 tonnes per day to other districts.
About 1.96 million tonnes of paddy has been recovered so far in Tiruvarur district. Collector V. Mohanachandran said nearly 80% of the harvest was complete and 8,000-10,000 tonnes were being taken out daily, including by rail. This was double the volume taken in the same period last year.
Officials said procurement was extended into evenings and holidays to ease backlogs and resolve logistical hurdles. With early arrivals and high yields this year, Delta counties are expected to significantly exceed last year’s order volumes.
Published – 24 Oct 2025 21:13 IST
