Surveillance strengthened on paddy movement in Tiruvallur

The Tiruvallur district administration has tightened surveillance on movement of paddy after complaints of bags being brought in by traders to direct procurement centres (DPCs).

Farmers have alleged that traders, including a few from neighbouring States, submit papers belonging to farmers and sell procured paddy.

“This, we hear is happening in Ponneri and Uthukottai areas. It should not be allowed. Farmers who are in distress seem to be pledging their crops with the traders and then giving the harvested crop to them. As the payment at the DPC may be better, the farmers are giving their adangal and chitta,” said a farmer, who did not want to be named.

Inspection at border checkposts

District Collector S. Kavitha said that inspections were being carried out at border checkposts, teams of officials from the Revenue and Agriculture departments are being told to verify registrations and the quantity of procurement and the variety.

“We have created awareness among farmers that a two-year procurement ban would be imposed on those who gave their adangal to traders. The digital crop survey has been made mandatory from crop standing in the fields. If there are any discrepancies, special teams have been formed to verify the farmers’ fields,” she said.

Andhra Pradesh truck seized

Following such measures, a team of Revenue Department officials have seized a truck containing 16 tonnes of paddy from Andhra Pradesh in Anna Nagar in Uthukottai taluk.

Tiruvallur district has around 1.06 lakh hectares of land under paddy cultivation. This time, of the 70 DPCs approved, 58 have been opened and are functioning.

“The remaining will be opened based on the harvest schedule in those taluks. So far 9,600 tonnes of paddy have been procured from 1,300 farmers,” an official source said.