Parliament Question: Impact of Kuruvai Paddy Procurement

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *94 ANSWERED ON 05TH 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. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *94 FOR ANSWER ON 05TH 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- Year No of food Project Cost Approved grants processing projects (Rs in crores) in aid (Rs in approved crores) 2022-23 12 251.01 47.89 2023-24 15 405.59 97.71 2024-25 - - - 2025-26* 1 20 9.72 * as on 31.12.2025

(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.

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. *****