Lok Sabha Question No. 94 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Impact of  Kuruvai Paddy Procurement
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *94

ANSWERED ON 05 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## IMPACT OF KURUVAI PADDY PROCUREMENT

## *94. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  Kuruvai  paddy  procurement shortfalls on cereal availability and food processing activities in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of Central assistance approved or released under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) for food processing and rice-based value addition projects in Tamil Nadu during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
- (c) whether any proposals have been received from the State Government of Tamil Nadu seeking support for strengthening paddy processing, storage and value chain infrastructure to stabilise farmers' income and cereal supply and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Union  Government  to  ensure  that  procurement-related disruptions do not adversely affect farmers and consumers through targeted support to food processing infrastructure in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *94  FOR  ANSWER  ON  05 TH   FEBRUARY,  2026  REGARDING 'IMPACT OF KURUVAI PADDY PROCUREMENT'

- (a): As  informed  by  the  Govt.  of  Tamil  Nadu,  there  has  been  a  substantial  increase  of procurement of paddy during the ongoing Kuruvai season KMS 2025-26 (Kharif) and there is an  increase  of  83%  reported  in  procurement  over  the  last  year. There  was  no  shortfall  in Kuruvai paddy procurement and no shortfall on the cereal availability and food processing activities.
- (b): The details of food processing projects approved under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) Scheme during the last three years and the current year in the state of Tamil Nadu are as follows-
- (c) & (d): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has not received any proposal from the State Government of Tamil Nadu for strengthening paddy processing, storage and value  chain  infrastructure.  However,  to  support  food  processing  infrastructure,  MoFPI  has approved 81 food processing projects under component schemes of PMKSY, 17869 micro food processing  enterprises  under  PM  Formalization  of  Micro  Food  Processing  Enterprises (PMFME)  scheme  and  19  projects  under  Production  Linked  Incentive  Scheme  for  Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) in Tamil Nadu, as on 31.12.2025.

| Year     | No of food processing projects approved   | Project Cost (Rs in crores)   | Approved grants in aid (Rs in crores)   |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 2022-23  | 12                                        | 251.01                        | 47.89                                   |
| 2023-24  | 15                                        | 405.59                        | 97.71                                   |
| 2024-25  | -                                         | -                             | -                                       |
| 2025-26* | 1                                         | 20                            | 9.72                                    |

Further,  as  informed  by  the Department  of  Food  and  Public  Distribution,  the  State Government  and  its  agencies  procure  paddy  with  prescribed  Fair  Average  Quality  (FAQ) specifications at Minimum Support Price (MSP) to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices for their produce and do not have to resort to distress sale. However, if the producer/farmer gets better price in comparison to MSP, they are free to sell their produce in open market. Procurement centers are opened by respective agencies taking into account the production, marketable surplus, convenience of farmers and availability of other logistic /infrastructure etc. The  payment  of  MSP  is  made  directly  to  the  farmers  Bank  accounts  through  online procurement portal.

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