Mon Mar 24 14:18:27 UTC 2025: **Central Travancore Paddy Farmers Face Mounting Losses Amid Procurement Delays and Unseasonal Rains**
KOTTAYAM, March 24, 2025 – Paddy farmers in Central Travancore are facing severe hardship due to a combination of delayed crop procurement and recent unseasonal rains. Hundreds of tons of harvested paddy are at risk of total loss as the procurement process lags, forcing farmers to leave their crops exposed to the elements. The situation is worsening with fears that waterlogging will render the paddy unfit for sale.
Farmers accuse rice mills and their agents of exploiting the situation by demanding excessive concessions before purchasing the crop. They further allege that Supplyco officials are colluding with the millers, exacerbating the farmers’ plight. M.K. Dileep, Secretary of the Upper Kuttanad Karshika Vikasana Samithy, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that prolonged waterlogging could lead to sprouting and further losses.
Supplyco officials, however, claim that the millers’ demands are partly justified due to lower rice yields from the paddy, resulting from higher moisture content and discoloration. They cite a lower rice extraction rate (64 kg per quintal) compared to the government benchmark (68 kg per quintal). Their aim, they say, is to negotiate a fair price for both parties.
Farmers contest this, arguing that the lower quality is a result of soil acidity and inadequate irrigation resources, and that the government should either provide procurement concessions or improve access to better seeds and water. The farmers are calling for government intervention to address their concerns and prevent further losses.
First Piper 