TNCSC sets up new storage points for procured paddy

Trichy: To prevent a shortage of space in existing warehouses and storage points, The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) is establishing temporary storage facilities even as the summer procurement of paddy (navarai) crops has begun in the delta districts.According to the agriculture and farmers’ welfare department, around one lakh acres of summer paddy were cultivated in Trichy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts. TNCSC has set a target to procure around four lakh tonnes of summer paddy.Farmers have been harvesting their crops since May and delivering the produce to around 200 direct procurement centres (DPCs) across the districts. The procured paddy is then transported to storage points. However, stocks of paddy procured during last year’s kuruvai and samba seasons are still kept at existing cover and plinth (CAP) storage points and warehouses. In view of this, TNCSC has instructed senior managers to open new temporary CAP storage points.“We are opening new CAP storages on govt and some private land. Since we are still moving out the old pending stocks from the warehouses and existing CAP storage points for hulling and wagoning, there is a need to open temporary CAP storages,” a senior official said.Officials were also directed to ensure adequate availability of black polyethylene cover sheets to protect the stored produce from unseasonal rain.