Chengalpattu farmers want paddy DPCs to be opened soon for Sornavari crop

Farmers of Chengalpattu have urged the government to open direct procurement centres (DPCs) for the Swarnavari (or Sornavari) paddy season, which is almost nearing completion. Around 13,500 hectares are under cultivation this year under Swarnavari in the district. Seeds are sown for Swarnavari in April and harvest happens in August - September. 

R. Muralimohan of the Chengalpattu District Farmers Association said many farmers have harvested their crop and were worried about it getting wet and thereby losing colour. “Farmers will have to dry the paddy again. If there is increased moisture in the paddy, it will lead to farmers having to sell to traders. There is a backlog of about a month. Eight DPCs have to be opened in and around Padalam with each one usually taking in about 1,000 bags per day,” he said.  

Parasuraman, a farmer, said that DPCs should have been opened by this time considering the fact, thousands of acres of lands are under Swarnavari and are grown keeping in mind the DPCs. “They grow varieties that suit the public distribution system for which the DPCs are procurement points,” he said. 

Sources explained that since minimum support price for paddy will be revised only by September 1, farmers are still waiting and watching. “Some DPCs are open despite harvests still being slow so that farmers will have a fall-back mechanism,” the source explained.

The Chengalpattu District Collector D. Sneha said that permits had been issued for DPCs at 9 locations. “As harvests happen, the DPCs will be opened depending upon the need. Not much has happened so far,” she said.