TMC Farmers’ Wing Urges Tamil Nadu Government to Supply Tarpaulins Amid Samba Harvest
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| R. VENGADESH via The Hindu |
As the samba paddy harvest gathers pace across the delta and southern districts of Tamil Nadu, the farmers’ wing of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) has appealed to the State government to immediately supply tarpaulins at procurement centres to protect harvested crops from unseasonal rainfall.
In a statement issued on Sunday, TMC farmers’ wing secretary C. Rengarajan warned that continuous rainfall was putting freshly harvested paddy at risk of damage, potentially affecting farmers’ incomes during the peak harvest season.
He urged authorities to act swiftly to prevent losses and ensure smooth procurement operations.
Rising Risk from Unseasonal Rain
According to the farmers’ body, paddy harvest has intensified in districts such as Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirappalli, and parts of southern Tamil Nadu.
Farmers have begun transporting harvested grain to government-run Direct Purchase Centres (DPCs), where procurement is carried out under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system.
However, persistent and unpredictable rainfall has created serious challenges.
“Without proper tarpaulin cover, paddy stacked in open spaces is getting soaked,” Rengarajan said.
Exposure to moisture reduces grain quality, increases the risk of fungal growth, and leads to price deductions during procurement. In severe cases, damaged produce may even be rejected.
Demand for Immediate Tarpaulin Supply
The TMC farmers’ wing stressed that tarpaulins are the most basic and essential protection mechanism during wet harvest periods.
Rengarajan said that many procurement centres either lacked adequate tarpaulins or had worn-out covers that failed to shield the produce effectively.
He called on the Civil Supplies Department and district administrations to ensure sufficient and good-quality tarpaulins at all DPCs.
“Even a few hours of rain can destroy weeks of hard work,” he said, adding that preventive measures were far cheaper than compensation after losses.
Call for Faster Procurement
Beyond weather protection, the farmers’ organisation highlighted delays in procurement as another major concern.
Slow weighing, documentation, and verification processes have resulted in long queues of vehicles outside procurement centres.
These delays force farmers to leave their produce exposed for extended periods, increasing the risk of damage.
Rengarajan demanded faster procurement procedures, additional staff where required, and extended working hours during peak season.
He said speedy procurement would reduce congestion and minimise losses.
Shortage of Gunny Bags and Twine
The statement also pointed to recurring shortages of gunny bags and tying twine at procurement centres.
Without these essential materials, farmers are unable to pack their produce properly, leading to further delays.
The farmers’ wing urged authorities to maintain uninterrupted supplies of packing material throughout the harvest season.
Any disruption, they said, directly affects farmers’ ability to sell their crops on time.
Storage and Transportation Bottlenecks
Storage constraints have emerged as another major challenge.
Many godowns are operating near capacity, resulting in delays in lifting procured paddy from DPCs.
As a result, large quantities of grain remain piled up at procurement centres, occupying valuable space.
Rengarajan urged officials to ensure timely transportation of procured stocks to storage facilities.
He also asked the government to arrange temporary storage solutions where permanent infrastructure was insufficient.
Addressing these bottlenecks, he said, would prevent congestion and improve efficiency.
Importance of Protecting Farmers’ Interests
The TMC farmers’ wing emphasised that the samba season is crucial for rural livelihoods in Tamil Nadu.
Any loss during this period has long-term financial consequences for small and marginal farmers, many of whom rely on crop income to repay loans and meet household expenses.
The organisation warned that repeated losses due to administrative lapses could discourage farmers and weaken agricultural productivity.
They called on the government to treat the issue as a priority rather than a routine administrative matter.
Our Thoughts
The concerns raised by the TMC farmers’ wing highlight a recurring pattern in agricultural management during the monsoon-linked harvest seasons.
While procurement systems exist, ground-level preparedness often falls short when faced with weather-related challenges. The absence of basic infrastructure like tarpaulins reflects gaps in planning and execution.
Protecting harvested crops is not merely about providing covers. It requires coordinated efforts involving timely procurement, adequate manpower, efficient logistics, and sufficient storage capacity.
Unseasonal rains are becoming more frequent due to climate change, making such safeguards even more critical.
For farmers, losses at procurement centres are particularly frustrating because they occur after the hard work of cultivation and harvesting is complete.
A proactive approach, with advance stocking of tarpaulins and improved infrastructure, can prevent avoidable distress.
As Tamil Nadu seeks to strengthen its agricultural economy, ensuring that farmers’ produce is protected and procured efficiently must remain a top priority.