Boost for Farmers as Tiruvallur District Opens 17 Direct Procurement Centres for Paddy Harvest

In preparation for the upcoming Sornavari paddy harvest, Tiruvallur district, renowned as Chennai's rice bowl, has recently opened 17 new direct procurement centers (DPCs). The district, spanning 25,203 hectares of fertile land, anticipates yielding approximately 1.67 lakh tonnes of diverse rice varieties, including medium slender and mota (thick) types.

District Collector Alby John Varghese elaborated that out of this harvest, approximately 50,000 tonnes would be directed to the DPCs. A similar amount would be reserved by farmers for personal consumption, while an additional 50,000 tonnes are slated for private buyers. The phased establishment of 57 DPCs across 13 blocks is underway, with a concentration of nine centers in the Sholavaram block due to increased paddy cultivation this season.  Further, he said that the harvest is projected to conclude by late October.

District Collector Alby John Varghese stressed that the DPCs will be established on government land, making use of resources like e-seva maiyyams, controlled marketing committee warehouses, and community centers to ensure the safe storage of paddy. There is a strong emphasis on promptly moving the paddy bags to secure storage locations to prevent them from being exposed to weather elements. This year, the district has invested ₹13 crore in obtaining a storage facility at Gurupuram, featuring ten warehouses, each with the capacity to accommodate a thousand tonnes.

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In terms of remuneration, farmers are set to receive ₹21.60/kg for superior varieties and ₹21.5/kg for the mota (thick) type. This payment reflects last year's rate, as the Central government is yet to announce fresh rates for the upcoming Fasli year (harvest year).

Ponneri taluk farmer Jayakanthan attested to the positive impact of DPCs, highlighting improved paddy rates and reduced dependency on private buyers. The DPC rate sets a benchmark that safeguards farmers from lower offers. Additionally, streamlined procedures enable farmers to avoid long waiting periods in the open.

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Agriculture Department officials have responded to farmers' suggestions by implementing changes such as modified billing clerks and expedited processing of applications through the DPC portal.

Village administrative officers play a crucial role in approving or rejecting applications within three days, ensuring efficient processing of adangal confirmatory certificates. Special teams are diligently maintaining the integrity of DPC operations, preventing brokers or private traders from interfering with the process.

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