Paddy farmers must be shown mercy

Kerala is a land full of natural beauty. That is the main reason why it has been called God's Own Country. Backwaters, rivers and paddy fields used to enhance the beauty of Kerala. All of them are now deteriorating. The paddy fields that used to look like a sea of ​​green during the sowing phase and a sea of ​​gold during the harvest are fading away. With the loss of paddy cultivation, the face of the fields is changing and they are being filled up extensively. The authorities are not properly understanding or solving the problems and helplessness of paddy farmers. Those who cultivate paddy despite suffering losses out of love for agriculture are on the verge of a strike.

The Paddy Farmers Protection Committee has announced a strike in Alappuzha on the 29th of this month in protest against the government's unwillingness to increase the price of paddy or announce a policy. The government's failure to announce the price of paddy and the procurement policy is causing difficulties for farmers. The registration of farmers for the procurement of the first crop of the season is entering its final stage. Even now, the government has not decided on the revised procurement price. There is still uncertainty about the procurement policy.

There are 21,589 farmers according to the first crop registration. The area under paddy cultivation is 35,335 hectares. The MoU approved by the central and state governments in 2019 stipulates that payment should be made within 48 hours of the procurement of paddy. Not even that condition has been met yet.

Supplyco started the registration of paddy procurement in August. The government has not been able to announce the revised procurement price or policy even after three months. Supplyco and the Agriculture Department are maintaining a deafening silence on this issue. Farmers who depend solely on paddy farming are preparing for a strike out of desperation. The cost of production has increased significantly with the implementation of the wage hike. The Centre increased the price of paddy by 69 paise per kg last year. According to that increase, this time the farmers should get at least 28.89 paise by adding 23.69 paise as the central share and the current state incentive bonus of 5.20 paise. The state has not clarified its policy on implementing the central increase or increasing the incentive bonus. The government often says that paddy cultivation should be expanded and that fields should not be left fallow, but how can this be implemented without addressing the plight of the farmers?

The faces of rural farmers used to light up at the sight of lush coconut groves and the swaying of golden-colored rice stalks. The songs of Njattuvela, harvest and water bailing have left the stage. Even though machinery has come to the aid of farmers in the fields, a sense of loss and disappointment is visible on the faces of farmers. Most of them are forced to continue doing what they have been doing despite the losses. The Agriculture Department and the government have the responsibility to help them in a timely manner. Delaying it is unfair. It is not right to push those who cultivate in mud and water into a strike. It is unfortunate that a strike is needed for anything and everything. The authorities should be ready to announce the paddy procurement price and policy soon. The situation of giving someone water to quench their thirst only when they are parched must change.