Strategies For Moisture Cap Crisis In Tamil N...

Strategies For Moisture Cap Crisis In Tamil Nadu

Author Name : Dr. T. Banumathi

ABSTRACT Strategies For Moisture Cap Crisis In Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu’s paddy farmers grapple with high moisture content in 2025 harvests due to unseasonal rains in delta districts, affecting thousands of hectares. The central government enforces a strict 17% maximum moisture norm for procurement, rejecting the state’s plea to relax it to 22%, while permitting 7% discolored or broken grains—up from 5%. This compels farmers to incur drying costs or sell at lower private market rates, leading to financial losses.​Proposed solutions include deploying mechanical dryers at procurement centers, farmer training on drying techniques, and data-driven irrigation with real-time moisture monitoring. Interstate comparisons highlight Punjab’s success with advanced dryers and flexible norms, Kerala’s infrastructure investments, and Andhra Pradesh’s policy relaxations, which minimize post-harvest waste. An integrated approach, technology upgrades, policy advocacy, and infrastructure can protect incomes and reduce losses effectively.