VILLUPURAM: In a major blow to local farmers, more than 2,000 bags of paddy were damaged due to unexpected overnight rain at the Direct Procurement Centre (DPC) in Kaanai village near Villupuram on Monday.
The paddy bags, left exposed in open fields for over 20 days without being procured, were soaked as the protective tarpaulin covers failed to withstand the downpour.
Farmers from nearby areas had brought their harvested paddy to the Kaanai DPC, hoping for timely procurement by the government. However, due to prolonged delays in procurement and the absence of traders visiting the centre, the paddy bags remained piled up in the open, sources said. Although temporary tarpaulin sheets were used to cover the heaps, the lack of proper stacking and prolonged exposure led to the damage.
