Farmers in Kerala’s Thrissur await over ₹10 crore in paddy dues as Onam nears
Hundreds of paddy farmers in Thrissur district are anxiously awaiting more than ₹10 crore in pending payments for paddy procured by the Kerala State Civil
Hundreds of paddy farmers in Thrissur district are anxiously awaiting more than ₹10 crore in pending payments for paddy procured by the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco), with uncertainty over the release of funds casting a shadow over the upcoming Onam season. Farmers said they were yet to receive payment for the Mundakan crop harvested during January and February and the Puncha crop procured during April and May.
They alleged that there was no clarity on when the dues would be credited. According to farmers, more than ₹3 crore remains pending for cultivators in Punnayurkulam, Vadekkad and Punnayur grama panchayats alone. A total of 329 farmers from the three panchayats sold their paddy to Supplyco, but more than half of them are yet to receive payment. Fund issue Payments are routed through the State Bank of India (SBI) and Canara Bank.
However, SBI officials said payments were being released as and when funds were received from the government, indicating that the delay was due to the non-availability of funds rather than any banking issue. The delay has caused widespread concern among farmers, many of whom depend on the procurement proceeds to meet cultivation expenses and household needs ahead of the festival season. Farmers recalled that during the previous procurement season, payments were cleared only in September after prolonged protests.
They had even observed Farmers’ Day as a ‘Black Day’ to highlight the issue. With this year’s dues also remaining unpaid, farmers fear a repeat of the crisis. A meeting of paddy farmers from the Ponnani region has been convened on August 5 to chalk out an agitation demanding the immediate release of the pending payments.
The BriefWire