Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) president G.K. Vasan on Friday (September 12, 2025) urged the Tamil Nadu government to strengthen the infrastructure at direct purchase centres (DPCs) to ensure proper procurement and safe storage of harvested paddy.

In a statement, Mr. Vasan said nearly one lakh sacks of paddy stored at a DPC at Vriddachalam in Cuddalore district were left in the open and got soaked in the recent rains. He said the sacks should have been transported to warehouses or stored under proper cover but were damaged due to negligence, leading to financial losses to farmers.

He said farmers from Mayiladuthurai, Sirkazhi, Kumbakonam, and Ariyalur have complained that paddy brought to DPCs was often left piled up without timely purchase. It has become routine for paddy sacks to be exposed to rain and damaged, Mr. Vasan said.

He also charged that procurement at DPCs was not being carried out efficiently, whether it is during the rainy season or in the summer. “Delays in moving purchased paddy to warehouses, shortage of staff, and the absence of adequate tarpaulins were cited as major reasons for the recurring problem,” he said.

Mr. Vasan urged the State government to immediately conduct inspections at DPCs across the State, ensure prompt procurement of paddy, and guarantee safe storage. He also demanded that compensation be provided to farmers who suffered losses due to the recent rains.