Sat May 17 13:55:25 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the situation, tailored to the tone of The Hindu based on the context provided:
**Kuttanad Paddy Farmers Face Financial Ruin as Banks Deny Crucial Loans**
**KOTTAYAM, May 17, 2025** – Paddy farmers in the Kuttanad and upper Kuttanad regions of Kerala are on the brink of financial distress as banks continue to deny loans against Paddy Receipt Sheets (PRS), essential instruments for securing advance payments for government-procured rice. An estimated 7,000 farmers in Kottayam district alone are awaiting payments, with total dues reaching approximately ₹81 crore.
Despite assurances from Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil regarding a resolution, farmers report that banks remain reluctant to accept the receipts. While the State Bank of India (SBI) is processing PRS dated up to March 31, Canara Bank has reportedly withdrawn from the scheme entirely, allegedly demanding higher interest rates.
“Farmers have been waiting for over a month,” said V.J. Lally, patron of Nelkarshaka Samrakshana Samithi. “Canara Bank has not accepted a single PRS this season. This is unprecedented.”
The delay in PRS loans is crippling farmers’ ability to prepare for the upcoming cultivation cycle. A proposed involvement of Kerala Bank in the scheme has yet to materialize.
The Kerala Congress has announced an indefinite protest to highlight the farmers’ plight. Party chairman P.J. Joseph has called on the State government to immediately release ₹100 crore for paddy procurement payments, urging both State and Central governments to find lasting solutions to the recurring crises in paddy procurement and stock reservation. “This prolonged delay is pushing farmers into deep distress,” Mr. Joseph stated. The ongoing situation raises serious concerns about the future of paddy farming in Kuttanad, a region vital to Kerala’s agricultural landscape.
First Piper 