Wed Mar 12 15:28:26 UTC 2025: ## Madurai Farmers Urge Deadline Extension for Paddy Procurement After Unexpected Rains
**Madurai, March 12, 2025** – Farmers in Ponnamangalam panchayat, Madurai district, are appealing to the district administration to extend the deadline for paddy procurement following unexpected heavy rains. Thousands of acres of harvested paddy in Melenthal village have been damaged by the recent downpours, leaving farmers facing significant losses.
According to Karuthasamy, a farmer from Melenthal, the Direct Purchase Centre (DPC) in Muthukrishnapuram is refusing to accept their harvest, citing a deadline that expired four days ago. The DPC is prioritizing paddy from Alagusirai panchayat, leaving Ponnamangalam and Melenthal farmers with thousands of bags of paddy exposed to the elements.
Karuthasamy estimates that approximately 5,000 bags of paddy are at risk of spoilage if not procured and stored immediately. He fears that the losses could push many farmers into debt and is urging the administration to extend the procurement period by at least a week to allow them to sell their crops. He also suggested establishing a separate DPC for Ponnamangalam and Melenthal to prevent similar issues in the future.
First Piper 