On the 1st of the Malayalam month of Chingam, which is to be celebrated as Farmers' Day, rice farmers in Palakkad and Kuttanad, which are the rice bowls of the state, were staging a protest march in the scorching heat against the government's neglect. The rice farmers marched demanding that the government should clear the dues for the procured paddy. On the occasion of Farmer's Day, the farmers protested by giving up the incentive gifts and honours given by the government through Krishi Bhavans.

Supplyco procured paddy from the farmers as per the instructions of the government. Even after five months of rabi harvest, the price of measured paddy has not yet been paid in full. There were many promises and assurances but farmers have not yet received the price of the rice. The reason is the financial crisis of the government. It cannot be said when the attention of the finance department, which is struggling to find funds to meet the onam expenses, will extend to the farmers. Small and medium farmers are in dire straits as the price of paddy measured five months ago has not been received yet. The loan taken for farming has to be repaid and the expenses of the current farming have to be met as well. Supplyco should pay their dues, for farmers to meet such demands. The weather also has not been in favour of the farmers. Due to lack of water, many paddy fields began to dry up. Many farmers were in the difficult situation of having to irrigate their fields with pump sets even in Karkidaka month. Many people do not get the benefit of the crop insurance scheme. They are also demanding that the price of procured rice be increased to Rs 35 per kg. Farmers also demand that the price of paddy should be paid in cash. These are not unreasonable demands.

The paddy stocked by Supplyco must have already been threshed and distributed and the price would have been received as well. At the same time, the fact that the farmer who has spent money and labour to grow paddy has not yet received the fruits of his labour is very unfortunate. The dues to be paid by the government to Supplyco are more than four thousand crores. The government has to pay huge arrears not only for rice procurement but also for the goods bought and sold through Supplyco stores. It is likely that such arrears will be postponed, as the government is scrambling to generate cash for Onam needs. However, extending the arrears of paddy procurement will be ungrateful to the farmers. It is also a violation of the promise given by the government during procurement. At the Farmers' Day function, the Agriculture Minister spoke about many new schemes coming up to ensure better income for the farmers. That's a good thing. The country will be better only if the agriculture sector prospers. Through this, the farmers can also get a better financial status, but it should also be ensured that the agricultural products produced will also get a good price. Making the farmer climb the steps of the agriculture offices for months to get the price of procuring paddy, it is not conducive to farming.