Sat May 24 11:53:24 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam, an association of farmers in Tamil Nadu, is urging the state government to reverse its decision to privatize paddy procurement. They demand the reinstatement of the previous system where the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation directly purchases paddy from farmers. They also seek compensation for farmers who suffered losses due to unexpected heavy rains impacting alternate crops grown during the summer. Additional demands include a higher price for paddy and sugarcane, as well as the Union Government intervening to relax gold loan requirements for farmers struggling to repay due to unpredictable weather affecting harvests.
**News Article:**
**Tamil Nadu Farmers Protest Paddy Procurement Privatization, Demand Government Intervention**
**Tiruvarur, India – May 24, 2025** – The Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam, a prominent farmers’ association in Tamil Nadu, has issued a strong call to the state government to halt the “privatization” of paddy procurement, citing concerns over farmer livelihoods and economic stability.
In a meeting held in Mannargudi on Saturday, the association passed a resolution demanding the reinstatement of the direct purchase system through the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, a system previously in place in the delta region. Farmers claim the shift to private agencies has created uncertainty and potential for exploitation.
Beyond procurement issues, the association is also seeking compensation from the Disaster Relief Fund for farmers who suffered losses due to unexpected heavy rains that damaged alternate crops planted during the summer. This compensation would be in addition to existing crop insurance.
The association is advocating for a revised “kuruvai package” to benefit all farmers and urges the government to adopt incentive schemes similar to those implemented in Telangana and Puducherry, which provide significant per-acre financial support to farmers annually.
Further demands include an increased price for paddy (₹3,500 per quintal) and sugarcane (₹5,000 per metric tonne). The association has also called on the Union Government to negotiate with the Reserve Bank of India to ease gold loan requirements, citing the increasing difficulty farmers face in repaying these loans due to climate-related harvest failures.
The protest highlights growing concerns among Tamil Nadu farmers regarding government policies and the impact of climate change on their livelihoods. The association’s demands reflect a desire for increased government support and a return to more predictable and equitable agricultural practices.
First Piper 