Thu Apr 03 14:45:42 UTC 2025: ## Tenkasi Farmers Reap Bumper Paddy Harvest Thanks to Government Support
**Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, April 3, 2025** – Farmers in Tenkasi district have harvested a bumper paddy crop, exceeding their target by a significant margin. Following unseasonal rainfall that filled reservoirs and irrigation tanks last November and December, farmers surpassed the 10,000-hectare target, resulting in over 26,275 tonnes of paddy procured by the government.
The success is attributed to the Tamil Nadu government’s direct procurement program, designed to eliminate middlemen. The government established 41 direct procurement centers across the district, offering attractive support prices of ₹24.50 per kg for fine varieties and ₹24.05 per kg for general varieties. Payments are directly deposited into farmers’ bank accounts.
A total of 3,276 farmers participated in the program, selling their produce through the government centers. The district collector, A. K. Kamal Kishore, highlighted the program’s success in ensuring fair prices and eliminating exploitation by intermediaries. The initiative comes after a period of drought in the region, demonstrating the resilience of local farmers and the effectiveness of government support.
First Piper 