Farmers from Panaiyur and its surrounding villages have urged the district administration and the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) to set up a dedicated summer Direct Procurement Centre (DPC) in their locality, citing logistics and transport challenges.According to official data, paddy has been cultivated across 1,401 hectares in Sivaganga district this season, with agricultural department officials projecting an estimated yield of 5,769 tonnes.To facilitate smooth trade, the TNCSC is opening procurement centers at five locations - Samipatti, Keezhapasalai, S.R. Pattinam, Nagavayal, and Nelmudikkarai – in the first phase.Under the current plan, the centre at Samipatti has been designated to procure paddy from its neighbouring revenue villages, including Panaiyur and Vembathur.Objecting to this arrangement, a delegation of local farmers visited the TNCSC Regional Manager’s office in Sivaganga to submit a formal petition.They demanded the reinstating of a dedicated procurement centre in Panaiyur.“Paddy has been cultivated across more than 150 acres in Panaiyur and surrounding pockets like Ponnakulam, Azhupillaithangi, Nainankulam, Veeravalasai, Thukkal, Managudi, Pasangarai, and Kalamekki,” a farmer stated.“Last year, a local center in Panaiyur handled our produce efficiently. Merging us with the Samipatti center creates unnecessary logistical hurdles. We demand that the authorities decouple it and set up a separate station at Panaiyur,” farmers stated.When contacted senior officials from TNCSC said that they were looking into the matter. “Acknowledging the farmers’ grievances, we have directed field officials to conduct a formal inspection of the area to assess the viability of their request,” an official said. Published - July 04, 2026 08:31 pm IST