A Central team comprising senior officials inspected direct procurement centres (DPC) in Cuddalore district on Tuesday (October 28, 2025) to assess the moisture content in paddy following continuous rain under the influence of the Northeast monsoon.
The visit comes after the Tamil Nadu government requested the Centre for permission to procure paddy with a moisture level of up to 22%, citing the impact of the rain.
The team, led by D.M. Preethi, Assistant Director from the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Technical Officers Priya Bhatt and Anupama, Arun Prasad, Manager, Food Corporation of India (Vellore), and K.C. Uma Maheswari, Senior Manager, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC), inspected the direct procurement centre at Thookanampakkam and collected samples from the paddy bags.
The team also recorded farmers’ concerns and inspected paddy procurement centres in Kundiyamallur and Kalaiyur.
Sivakumar, a farmer of Kundiyamallur, said that continuous rains had damaged paddy crops ready for harvest and increased the moisture levels in the harvested grain. Samples were collected to assess moisture content and determine the extent of the damage.
Farmers submitted requests to approve the procurement of paddy with up to 22% moisture content, citing challenges caused by heavy rains under the influence of the Northeast monsoon.
Published – October 28, 2025 03:34 pm IST
