THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Supplyco has asked the government to urgently provide another Rs 400 crore to pay the price of paddy procured in the second crop. Civil Supplies Department is in the process of taking the same amount from the Bank Consortium if the Finance Department does not release the money and Supplyco does not agree with this. The amount to be paid by Supplyco to banks for procurement of paddy is Rs 3400 crore.

Farmers' anger against the government is intensifying as the price of paddy is not available even after 4 months of procurement. Supplyco had informed the government that it could not bear the debt and that the state government should release at least the due amount immediately, otherwise, the disbursement of the amount would be stalled.

The police intelligence units have also reported that the farmer's anger is severe. Farmer organizations of CPM and CPI have also publicly come out against the delay in price distribution. Opposition organizations and farmers' organizations are already protesting. Associations of Padasekhara Samithis have also started coming in protest.

Paddy ₹ 28.20 and rice ₹ 10.90

Supplyco is procuring paddy from farmers at a support price of Rs 28.90 per kg. Threshing a quintal of paddy in a private mill will produce 64.5 kg of rice. Rice is given at a rate of 10.90 per kg in ration shops to white and blue cardholders.