Mon Jul 28 19:13:23 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Tamil Nadu is on track to achieve a record high in paddy procurement this year, potentially reaching 47 lakh tonnes. As of late July 2025, 44.49 lakh tonnes have already been procured, surpassing previous records. The Cauvery delta region accounts for a significant portion of the procurement. Farmers have received substantial payments through minimum support price mechanisms, and state government subsidies add to their income. Increased groundwater availability and the free electricity scheme have been key factors driving the surge in production and procurement, particularly outside of the typical irrigation season. The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation handles the majority of the procurement, with cooperatives and the NCCF playing smaller roles. There is discussion about involving Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the future.
**News Article:**
**Tamil Nadu Poised for Record-Breaking Paddy Procurement**
*CHENNAI, July 29, 2025* – Tamil Nadu is set to achieve an unprecedented milestone in paddy procurement, with projections indicating the state will soon surpass its existing record and potentially reach 47 lakh tonnes by the end of the current procurement year. As of today, 44.49 lakh tonnes have been procured, rapidly approaching the previous high of 44.95 lakh tonnes recorded in 2020-21.
Driven by a daily average procurement rate of 15,000 tonnes, officials are confident that the record will be broken within days. The Cauvery delta region continues to be the state’s rice bowl, contributing approximately two-thirds of the total procurement, amounting to around 30 lakh tonnes.
The state government has disbursed ₹10,734 crore to farmers in the form of minimum support price. According to central government data, ₹6,899 crore was paid to 3.36 lakh farmers during the first round of procurement (September 2024 to March 2025), with an additional ₹3,835 crore distributed to 1.95 lakh farmers subsequently. Furthermore, the state government supplements the MSP with additional payments of ₹130 and ₹105 per quintal for Grade A and common paddy varieties, respectively.
Several factors have contributed to this surge in paddy production. Notably, improved groundwater availability and the state’s free electricity scheme for farmers have enabled cultivation and procurement even outside the usual irrigation season. While 28.3 lakh tonnes were procured by the end of March 2025, the remaining 16 lakh tonnes were procured over the past 3 and a half months.
The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation manages the bulk of the procurement, with cooperatives and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) handling the rest. Experts are suggesting the inclusion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to streamline and enhance the procurement process.
The state government had aimed for 50 lakh tonnes of procurement during 2021-22. The success of this year’s efforts underscores the resilience and adaptability of Tamil Nadu’s agricultural sector and the positive impact of supportive government policies.
First Piper 