THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has reduced the price of newly procured paddy by Rs 1.43 per kg. The Centre had increased this amount in support price. Under the guise of this, the state share was reduced. As a result, the farmers did not get the benefit of the increased amount by the Centre. The state government's reasoning is that only the same rate as last year will be received.

A farmer who produces 10 quintals of paddy loses Rs 1430. The cost of fertilizer, wages, tractor rental increases annually. At present, the central share is Rs 20.40 out of Rs 28.20 which the farmer receives as paddy price. The Centre has increased by Rs 1.43. The state share is Rs 7.80. That is Rs 1.43 reduced to Rs 6.37.

The state has a history of promoting agriculture by providing more support than the Centre. In 2015-16, the Centre increased by 50 paise while Kerala gave an increase of Rs 2. Kerala also increased the same amount (50 paisa) that the Centre had increased the previous year. In 2019-20, Kerala's share was increased by one rupee to 8.80. It was only after that that the Kerala share started decreasing as the central share was increased.
Storage of rice

(Central allocation per kg per year (₹)

State Share (₹) ,Farmer Gets (₹))

2015-16 ------------ 14.10 -------- 21.50

2016-17------------ 14.70----------- 7.80------------- 22.50

2017-18------------------------------- 23.30

2018-19 ----------- 17.50 ------------ 25.30

2019-20------------- 18.15----------- 8.80------------- 26.95

2020-21----------- 18.68------------ 8.80------------ 27.48

2021-22------------- 19.40----------- 8.60------------- 28.00

2022-23------------- 20.40 ----------- 7.80-------------28.20

2023-24--------------21.83------------6.37-------------- 28.20

"The state government is cheating the rice farmers. The state should have increased as much as the Centre has increased." - Muthalanthodu Mani, President, National Farmers Samaj, Palakkad