""" Tamil Nadu agricultural marketing knowledge base for RAG retrieval. ~30 knowledge chunks covering crop calendars, MSP/procurement, post-harvest handling, market regulations, transport, storage, seasonal patterns, and FPO guidance. Used by the recommendation agent to augment sell advice. """ from __future__ import annotations from dataclasses import dataclass @dataclass class KnowledgeChunk: id: str title: str source: str category: str text: str KNOWLEDGE_BASE: list[KnowledgeChunk] = [ # ── Crop Calendars ────────────────────────────────────────────────── KnowledgeChunk( "CC-001", "Rice (Samba) Crop Calendar - Tamil Nadu", "TNAU Crop Production Guide 2025", "crop_calendar", "Samba paddy is the main rice season in Tamil Nadu, sown in Jun-Jul and harvested Sep-Oct (kharif). " "Kuruvai (short duration) is sown Apr-May, harvested Aug-Sep. Navarai/Thaladi (rabi) is sown Oct-Nov, " "harvested Jan-Feb. Post-harvest procurement by TNCSC typically runs Oct-Jan for kharif, Feb-Mar for rabi. " "Prices are lowest during Oct-Nov when arrivals peak from samba harvest across the Cauvery delta." ), KnowledgeChunk( "CC-002", "Turmeric Crop Calendar - Erode Region", "TNAU Crop Production Guide 2025", "crop_calendar", "Turmeric in Tamil Nadu is planted Jun-Jul and harvested Jan-Mar after 8-9 months. " "Erode district is the hub, hosting the world's largest turmeric market. " "After harvest, turmeric requires 45-60 days of curing (boiling, drying, polishing) before sale. " "Peak arrivals at Erode mandi: Feb-Apr. Prices typically lowest in Mar, highest in Sep-Oct." ), KnowledgeChunk( "CC-003", "Groundnut Crop Calendar - Tamil Nadu", "TNAU Oilseeds Guide 2025", "crop_calendar", "Groundnut in Tamil Nadu has two seasons: kharif (sown Jun, harvested Sep-Oct) and rabi " "(sown Dec, harvested Mar-Apr). Major producing districts: Villupuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai. " "Post-harvest: pods must be dried to <8% moisture within 3 days to prevent aflatoxin. " "Prices dip in Oct (kharif harvest) and Mar (rabi harvest)." ), KnowledgeChunk( "CC-004", "Cotton Crop Calendar - Tamil Nadu", "CCI Cotton Outlook 2025", "crop_calendar", "Cotton (MCU-5, Surabhi varieties) is sown Jul-Aug and harvested Nov-Jan in Tamil Nadu. " "Major districts: Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Karur. Three pickings over 2-3 months. " "CCI procurement at MSP runs Nov-Mar. Prices typically lowest in Dec at peak arrivals." ), KnowledgeChunk( "CC-005", "Banana Crop Calendar - Dindigul and Theni", "TNAU Horticultural Crops Guide 2025", "crop_calendar", "Banana (Robusta/Cavendish) is a year-round crop in Tamil Nadu with 10-12 month cycle. " "Main planting: Jun-Jul (harvest Apr-Jun) and Oct-Nov (harvest Aug-Oct). " "Dindigul and Theni are major producing districts. Banana is highly perishable -- " "must be sold within 5-7 days of harvest. No cold storage available in most production areas." ), # ── MSP & Procurement ─────────────────────────────────────────────── KnowledgeChunk( "MSP-001", "Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Paddy 2025-26", "CACP Recommendations, GoI", "msp_procurement", "MSP for Common Paddy 2025-26: Rs 2,300/quintal. Grade A Paddy: Rs 2,320/quintal. " "Tamil Nadu state bonus: Rs 100/quintal additional above MSP for paddy procured through TNCSC. " "Total effective price for TN farmers: Rs 2,400-2,420/quintal. " "If market price < MSP, farmers should sell to TNCSC Direct Purchase Centres (DPCs)." ), KnowledgeChunk( "MSP-002", "MSP for Oilseeds and Pulses 2025-26", "CACP Recommendations, GoI", "msp_procurement", "Groundnut: Rs 6,377/quintal. Black gram (Urad): Rs 6,950/quintal. " "Green gram (Moong): Rs 8,558/quintal. Cotton (medium staple): Rs 7,121/quintal. " "Copra (milling): Rs 10,860/quintal. Maize: Rs 2,225/quintal. " "NAFED and CCI are the central procurement agencies. State agencies vary by crop." ), KnowledgeChunk( "MSP-003", "TNCSC Paddy Procurement Process", "TNCSC Operations Manual", "msp_procurement", "TNCSC operates Direct Purchase Centres (DPCs) at every regulated mandi during harvest season. " "Process: farmer brings paddy -> moisture check (<17%) -> weighment -> grade assessment -> " "payment within 72 hours via bank transfer. Documents needed: Aadhaar, land patta, bank passbook. " "Maximum purchase: 50 quintals per acre of land owned. Open Oct-Jan (kharif) and Feb-Mar (rabi)." ), # ── Post-Harvest Handling ─────────────────────────────────────────── KnowledgeChunk( "PH-001", "Paddy Drying Best Practices", "NABCONS Post-Harvest Guide", "post_harvest", "Paddy must be dried from 20-22% moisture at harvest to <14% for safe storage. " "Sun drying on clean tarpaulin (not bare ground) for 2-3 days. Turn grain every 2 hours. " "Avoid drying on road shoulders (contamination, traffic damage). " "TNCSC rejects paddy with >17% moisture. Each 1% excess moisture = Rs 20-30/quintal discount " "from private traders." ), KnowledgeChunk( "PH-002", "Turmeric Post-Harvest Processing", "Spices Board India", "post_harvest", "Freshly harvested turmeric rhizomes must be cured within 2 days: boil in water for 45-60 min " "until soft, then sun-dry for 10-15 days until moisture <10%. Loss during processing: ~60-70% " "weight (fresh to dry). Polishing with hand-operated drums improves appearance and price. " "Well-cured, polished turmeric fetches 15-20% premium over unpolished." ), KnowledgeChunk( "PH-003", "Groundnut Drying and Aflatoxin Prevention", "ICRISAT Post-Harvest Management", "post_harvest", "Groundnut pods must be dried to <8% moisture within 3 days of harvest to prevent aflatoxin " "(Aspergillus flavus). Use raised drying platforms or tarpaulins. " "Aflatoxin-contaminated lots are rejected by exporters and fetch 30-40% lower prices. " "Test: if pods taste bitter or show greenish mold, do not store -- sell immediately." ), KnowledgeChunk( "PH-004", "Banana Post-Harvest Handling", "TNAU Banana Production Technology", "post_harvest", "Banana bunches should be harvested at 75-80% maturity (green, plump fingers). " "Handle with cloth gloves (no bare hands -- bruising reduces price). " "De-hand within 2 hours, grade by size. Use ventilated crates, not sacks. " "Shelf life at ambient temperature: 5-7 days. With ripening chamber: up to 14 days. " "Storage loss: ~8% per month without cold chain." ), # ── Market Regulations ────────────────────────────────────────────── KnowledgeChunk( "MR-001", "APMC and Tamil Nadu Market Regulations", "Tamil Nadu APMC Act", "market_regulation", "Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act governs all mandi transactions. " "Mandi fee (market cess): 1% of sale value, paid by buyer. Commission agent (adathiya) fee: " "1-2% of sale value. Weighment charges: Rs 2-5 per quintal. Total transaction cost at regulated " "mandi: approximately 2.5-4% of sale value. Direct farmer-to-buyer sales outside mandi are " "now permitted under Model APMC Act reforms." ), KnowledgeChunk( "MR-002", "eNAM Benefits for Tamil Nadu Farmers", "eNAM Portal - User Guide", "market_regulation", "Electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) integrates mandis for online price discovery. " "Benefits: transparent pricing, wider buyer base, reduced commission agent dependency. " "In Tamil Nadu, 68 mandis are eNAM-integrated as of 2025. Farmers can check live prices " "on eNAM app before deciding which mandi to visit. Limitation: actual trading volumes on " "eNAM are still low (~5-10% of total in most mandis)." ), KnowledgeChunk( "MR-003", "Commission Agent (Adathiya) System", "NABARD Market Study 2024", "market_regulation", "Commission agents (adathiyas) play a central role in Tamil Nadu mandis. Services: " "weighment, grading, finding buyers, credit provision, storage. Fee: 1-2% of sale value. " "Farmers with established agent relationships often get better prices through preferential " "access to high-value buyers. FPOs can bypass agents through direct buyer linkages, " "saving 1-2% in commissions." ), # ── Transport & Logistics ─────────────────────────────────────────── KnowledgeChunk( "TR-001", "Transport Cost Estimation - Tamil Nadu", "NABARD Cost of Cultivation Study 2024", "transport", "Typical transport costs for agricultural produce in Tamil Nadu (2025): " "Mini truck (1-2 tonnes): Rs 15-20/km. Tata 407 (4 tonnes): Rs 12-15/km. " "Per quintal rates: Rs 2-3/quintal/km for distances up to 50km. " "Minimum viable load: 10 quintals for mini truck. Below 10 quintals, hire auto-rickshaw " "or shared transport (Rs 5-8/quintal/km but limited to 20km). " "Average rural road speed: 25-35 km/h." ), KnowledgeChunk( "TR-002", "Road Conditions by District", "TN PWD Road Survey 2024", "transport", "Road quality varies significantly across Tamil Nadu. NH/SH: good condition year-round. " "District roads: moderate, some sections impassable during heavy rain. " "Key transport corridors: Thanjavur-Kumbakonam (NH), Erode-Salem (NH), Madurai-Dindigul (NH). " "During Oct-Nov (northeast monsoon), expect 5-10 days of transport disruption in coastal " "districts (Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram). Plan sales before monsoon onset." ), # ── Storage ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── KnowledgeChunk( "ST-001", "Warehouse Receipt System (WDRA)", "WDRA, Government of India", "storage", "Under the Warehouse Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA), farmers can deposit " "produce in registered warehouses and receive negotiable warehouse receipts. " "Benefits: avoid distress sale at harvest, take pledge loan (up to 70% of value), " "sell later when prices improve. Storage charges: Rs 15-25/quintal/month. " "WDRA-registered warehouses in Tamil Nadu: ~45 locations. Most in Thanjavur, Erode, Madurai." ), KnowledgeChunk( "ST-002", "Cold Storage for Perishables", "NHB Cold Storage Directory", "storage", "Tamil Nadu has limited cold storage capacity for fruits: ~0.4 lakh MT vs 2+ lakh MT demand. " "Cold storage locations: Madurai (3 facilities), Coimbatore (2), Chennai (5). " "Most banana farmers have no cold storage access. Cost: Rs 200-300/MT/month. " "Alternative: banana ripening chambers (available in Dindigul, Theni) allow controlled " "ripening over 4-5 days, extending effective shelf life." ), KnowledgeChunk( "ST-003", "On-Farm Storage Structures", "NABCONS Storage Guidelines", "storage", "For cereals and pulses, on-farm hermetic (airtight) storage bags reduce losses from " "2.5%/month to <0.5%/month. PICS (Purdue Improved Crop Storage) bags: Rs 80-120 each, " "hold 100kg, reusable 2-3 times. Available through KVKs and progressive FPOs. " "Traditional storage (gunny bags in room): 2-3% loss/month from insects and moisture. " "Invest in PICS bags if planning to hold rice or pulses for >1 month." ), # ── Seasonal Patterns ─────────────────────────────────────────────── KnowledgeChunk( "SP-001", "Rice Price Seasonal Pattern - Tamil Nadu", "Agmarknet Historical Data Analysis", "seasonal_pattern", "Rice (samba paddy) prices follow a predictable seasonal pattern in Tamil Nadu: " "Lowest: Oct-Nov (samba harvest flood, arrivals 3-4x normal). " "Rising: Dec-Feb (procurement absorbs supply, storage by traders). " "Highest: May-Jun (lean season, stocks depleted). " "Typical seasonal range: 15-20% between trough and peak. " "Strategy: if farmer has dry storage, hold samba paddy from Oct harvest until Jan-Feb " "for 8-12% better price. Storage cost: ~Rs 20/quintal/month." ), KnowledgeChunk( "SP-002", "Turmeric Price Seasonal Pattern - Erode", "Agmarknet Historical Data Analysis", "seasonal_pattern", "Turmeric prices at Erode market: " "Lowest: Feb-Mar (peak harvest arrivals, 500+ tonnes/day). " "Rising: Apr-Jun (curing complete, export demand starts). " "Highest: Sep-Oct (pre-festival demand, stocks with traders thinning). " "Seasonal range: 20-30%. Turmeric stores well (1.5% loss/month) -- " "growers who can hold 3-4 months post-harvest typically gain 15-25%." ), KnowledgeChunk( "SP-003", "Cotton Price Seasonal Pattern", "CCI Market Reports", "seasonal_pattern", "Cotton prices in Tamil Nadu: " "Lowest: Nov-Dec (peak arrivals from first and second pickings). " "Rising: Jan-Mar (CCI procurement supports floor, reduced arrivals). " "Highest: May-Jul (mills restocking, production complete). " "CCI intervention provides effective floor at MSP. If market price < MSP, " "sell to CCI. If market price > MSP, sell in open market for better returns." ), KnowledgeChunk( "SP-004", "Banana Price Patterns - Year Round", "TNAU Market Analysis", "seasonal_pattern", "Banana prices are less seasonal but affected by festivals and weather: " "Higher: Jan (Pongal), Apr (Tamil New Year), Sep-Oct (Navaratri). " "Lower: Jun-Jul (monsoon reduces transport, excess supply). " "Key driver: rain disrupts transport and increases spoilage, creating simultaneous " "supply shortage at distant markets and glut at production areas." ), # ── FPO Guidance ──────────────────────────────────────────────────── KnowledgeChunk( "FPO-001", "FPO Aggregation for Better Prices", "NABARD FPO Guidelines", "fpo_guidance", "Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) can aggregate produce from 50-100 smallholders " "to achieve bulk transport economics. Minimum economical lot for truck transport: " "10 tonnes (100 quintals). Individual farmers typically have 10-30 quintals. " "FPO aggregation benefits: 8-12% better price realization through bulk negotiation, " "shared transport (Rs 1.5-2/quintal/km vs Rs 3-5 for individual), quality grading access." ), KnowledgeChunk( "FPO-002", "FPO Collective Bargaining Strategies", "SFAC Best Practices Guide", "fpo_guidance", "FPO collective selling strategies: " "1. Pool harvest from members, grade into lots, sell graded lots to multiple buyers. " "2. Use eNAM for transparent price discovery before choosing mandi. " "3. Negotiate forward contracts with processors (rice mills, oil mills) before harvest. " "4. Use warehouse receipt financing to hold stock and avoid distress selling. " "FPOs with >500 members and annual turnover >Rs 50 lakhs qualify for equity grants." ), KnowledgeChunk( "FPO-003", "FPO Direct-to-Processor Linkages", "SFAC Market Linkage Report", "fpo_guidance", "FPOs can bypass mandis entirely by establishing direct linkages with processors: " "Rice mills: willing to pay MSP + Rs 50-100/quintal for consistent quality bulk supply. " "Oil mills (groundnut): premium of Rs 200-400/quintal for aflatoxin-free, graded pods. " "Turmeric processors: premium of Rs 500-1000/quintal for polished, high-curcumin lots. " "Key requirement: consistent quality and reliable weekly supply commitment." ), ]