Kerala reducing when centre increases; paddy farmers not getting benefit of additional support price

MALAPPURAM: While the Centre increases the support price of paddy every year, the Kerala government is cutting the incentive bonus given to farmers. With this, farmers are not getting the benefit of the additional support price due to the increase in the central share. The state government has reduced it by Rs 3.40 per kg in four years.

This year, when paddy was procured through Supplyco, Rs 28.20 per kg was paid. Of this, Rs 23 was paid by the Centre and Rs 5.20 by the State. Last year, the Centre paid Rs 21.83 and the State paid Rs 6.37. This year, when the Centre increased it by Rs 1.17, the State government deducted this share from the incentive bonus.

During the period 2015-16, when paddy procurement began, the share given by the State government was Rs 7.40. In 2020-21, it was given up to Rs 8.80, but now it has come down to Rs 5.20. During this period, the Central share has increased from Rs 14.10 to Rs 22.82.

The State government introduced the incentive bonus in Kerala, taking into account the cost of production. In other states, there is only a Central share.

Agriculture and yield down in Kerala

There has been a 10.5 percent decline in paddy production in the last two years. The production of paddy in the last financial year was 5.3 lakh tonnes. A decrease of 62,400 tonnes compared to the previous year. There has been a 5.9 percent decline in the area of ​​paddy fields in a year. Due to the increase in the price of chemical fertilizers, the cost of farming has increased by more than Rs. 10,000 per hectare in a year.

Year : Support Price ..... Central Share........State Share

2020-21 : .........27.48 ................... 18.68 ...........................8.80

2021-22 :......... 28.00 ....................19.40 ........................... 8.60

2022-23 : .........28.20 ................. 20.40 ............................7.80

2023-24 : .........28.20 .................. 21.83 ............................ 6.37

2024-25 : .........28.20 ................. 21.83 ............................ 6.37

2025-26 :......... 28.20 ................. 23.00 ............................ 5.20