The samba paddy harvest is now in full swing across Tamil Nadu's delta and southern districts. The farmers' wing of Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) has called on the State government to provide tarpaulins without delay. This, they say, is needed to protect the freshly harvested paddy from unseasonal rain. C. Rengarajan, the secretary of TMC's farmers' wing, noted that farmers have started bringing their paddy to government-run direct purchase centres (DPCs). But the ongoing rains risk damaging the produce. He said, "adequate tarpaulins must be provided at procurement centres to prevent rain-related losses." The TMC also urged the government to speed up paddy procurement, ensure an uninterrupted supply of gunny bags and twine, and handle stocks efficiently. Noting storage problems, Mr. Rengarajan pressed for timely removal of procured paddy to godowns. He warned that congestion at procurement centres must be avoided by addressing space shortages. This, he said, was vital to protecting farmers' interests during this busy harvest season.