Increase in paddy procurement price fails to enthuse farmers in delta districts

While the release of water for irrigation from the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur on the scheduled date of June 12 has raised the spirits of farmers in the delta region, farmers representatives have, however, not been enthused much by the “meagre” hike in the procurement price of paddy

While the release of water for irrigation from the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur on the scheduled date of June 12 has raised the spirits of farmers in the delta region, farmers representatives have, however, not been enthused much by the “meagre” hike in the procurement price of paddy.

Chief Minister M.K.Stalin after opening the Mettur dam had announced in Salem on Thursday that the procurement price of paddy would be increased to ₹2,500 a quintal for ordinary variety and ₹2,545 a quintal for fine variety. Farmers’ representatives pointed out that the DMK election promise of providing ₹2,500 a quintal of paddy was made four years ago.

“Though welcome, it has come a bit late. It should have been implemented soon after the DMK came to power. Now, even Bihar is providing ₹3,500 for a quintal of paddy,” said Cauvery Dhanapalan, president, Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Sangankalin Kootamaippu, reflecting the farmers’ demand citing rise in cultivation costs.

“The increase is meagre over the previous year’s price. It is unacceptable. The government should reconsider the decision,” said N. Veerasekaran, state secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Sangam. He found fault with the timing of the announcement. The procurement price was normally announced in September, but when it was announced at the time of the release of water for irrigation, it could play on the minds of farmers, Mr. Veerasekaran said. “It is as if telling farmers that they can take up some other vocation if they think that the price would not be remunerative,” he said.

V. Jeevakumar, district vice-president, All India Agricultural Labourers Union, Thanjavur, said the DMK should have fulfilled the election promise as soon as it had come to power. “We cannot welcome the announcement wholeheartedly. At least, ₹3,500 a quintal should be provided now,” he said.

Meanwhile, with the water released from the Mettur dam reaching the Mayanar barrage in Karur district on Friday, farmers in the delta region have begun preparations for the kuruvai paddy cultivation. While welcoming the timely opening of the dam, farmers’ representatives, however, underlined the need for the State government to mount pressure on Karnataka to release Tamil Nadu’s share of water. Tamil Nadu, they said, should press for the release of water as per the monthly schedule laid down by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court.

Mr. Dhanapalan felt that the area of kuruvai cultivation in Nagapattinam district and the delta region would go up substantially this year. He cited the desilting of the C and D channels as one of the reasons for his optimism.