Chennai: With the early harvesting of samba paddy gaining pace in the Cauvery delta, district administrations have intensified supervision at Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs) to prevent outsiders and traders from illegally selling paddy using fake documents by posing as farmers.
Officials have been instructed to thoroughly verify records and ensure that the benefits of paddy procurement reach only genuine farmers.
In Thanjavur district, Collector B. Priyanka Pankajam recently convened a preparatory meeting with Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) officials and purchase staff ahead of the Kharif marketing season 2025-26. Emphasising transparency and accountability, the Collector urged officials to work diligently throughout the season for the welfare of farmers.
She also referred to issues encountered during the previous Kuruvai purchase season and warned staff against any recurrence of such irregularities.
Strengthening this directive, District Revenue Officer and Collector-in-Charge D. Thyagarajan issued a strict warning on Saturday against allowing outsiders into the DPCs. Staff were instructed to carefully check the documents of all visitors and deny entry to anyone suspected of being a trader or middleman.
In an official statement, Thyagarajan said, “There are complaints that external traders are entering DPCs by pretending to be farmers. Employees must remain vigilant. Legal action will be taken against those involved in such irregularities.”
According to Thyagarajan, TNCSC has opened a total of 483 DPCs in the Thanjavur region so far. To date, 19,185 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured, with direct payments amounting to ₹48.48 crore transferred to the bank accounts of 4,218 farmers.
To further strengthen monitoring, farmers and DPC staff have been urged to report any suspicious activities by calling 94437 32305 or the toll-free number 1800 599 3540.
Meanwhile, similar arrangements have been made in neighbouring Thiruvarur district, where 298 DPCs have been opened for samba paddy procurement. District Collector V. Mohanchandran appealed to farmers to visit designated DPCs with proper documents, including Aadhaar, bank account details, and land ownership records.
He assured farmers that information regarding procurement dates and timings will be provided in advance to avoid long waits. The Collector also confirmed that TNCSC officials will remain available at all times during the samba season to address grievances and clear doubts, ensuring a smooth and transparent purchasing process.