Tamil Nadu Minister Inaugurates Two ₹11.56-Crore Paddy Storage Facilities In Cuddalore

Tamil Nadu Minister for Food and Civil Supplies P. Venkataramanan inaugurated two paddy storage facilities in Srimushnam taluk of Cuddalore district on Saturday (October 31, 2026).

The facilities have structural roofing and were built at a total cost of ₹11.56 crore with financial assistance from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

Together, they can store 7,000 tonnes of paddy.

Facilities at Melapalayur and Thethampattu

The facility at Melapalayur has a storage capacity of 2,000 tonnes and was built at a cost of ₹3.83 crore.

The facility at Thethampattu can store 5,000 tonnes and was constructed at a cost of ₹7.73 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Venkataramanan said permanent paddy storage facilities with structural roofing were being established across Tamil Nadu.

He said the facilities were intended to protect paddy procured from farmers at direct procurement centres from rain and other natural hazards.

The storage arrangements are relevant to procurement operations in the district, where large quantities of paddy are collected through direct procurement centres during the Kharif season.

During the 2025, 26 Kharif season, 748 direct paddy procurement centres were opened in Cuddalore district, and 5,66,210.880 tonnes of paddy were procured.

In the 2026, 27 season, 202 centres had been opened and 61,004.600 tonnes had been procured so far, the Minister said.

More storage capacity under development

Five storage facilities with a combined capacity of 33,500 tonnes were being developed in Cuddalore district.

The two inaugurated facilities form part of that total.

Work was under way on facilities with capacities of 9,500 tonnes in Veppur taluk, 6,000 tonnes at Vanamadevi in Kattumannarkoil taluk and 11,000 tonnes at Thazhanallur in Tittakudi taluk.

Mr. Venkataramanan said officials had been instructed to expedite the remaining work.

He also said procurement arrangements were being made according to the extent of agricultural land in the villages served by each centre.

The district administration was regularly reviewing both procurement and the movement of procured stocks, he said.

The facilities would help prevent paddy bags from getting soaked and damaged during the monsoon, ensure safe storage and support procurement operations, the Minister added.

Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar was present.

Source: The Hindu