Sat Sep 20 10:44:58 UTC 2025: ## News Article Summary:
**Headline:** Tamil Nadu Farmers Struggle as State Incentive for Paddy Remains Low
**Summary:** Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President Anbumani Ramadoss criticized the Tamil Nadu government for offering a meager incentive of ₹131 per quintal on top of the Central government’s minimum support price (MSP) of ₹2,369 for paddy. During his ‘Tamil Nadu People’s Rights Retrieval Journey’ in Thanjavur district, he highlighted that neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha offer significantly higher incentives to their farmers. Ramadoss asserted that Tamil Nadu farmers barely make a profit of ₹50 per quintal due to rising cultivation costs and condemned reports of bribery demanded by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation employees at direct purchase centers (DPCs). He urged the state government to increase the purchase price to ₹3,500 per quintal and improve infrastructure at DPCs to prevent paddy wastage.
## News Article:
**Tamil Nadu Farmers Left Behind: PMK President Demands Higher Paddy Price**
**THANJAVUR, India – September 20, 2025** – Farmers in Tamil Nadu are struggling to make ends meet due to the state government’s inadequate incentive on paddy purchases, according to Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President Anbumani Ramadoss. Speaking during his ‘Tamil Nadu People’s Rights Retrieval Journey’ in Thanjavur district on Saturday, Dr. Ramadoss voiced his concerns over the low state incentive, which adds only ₹131 to the Central government’s minimum support price (MSP) of ₹2,369 per quintal.
“Tamil Nadu farmers are being shortchanged,” stated Dr. Ramadoss, highlighting the disparity with neighboring states. “Andhra Pradesh offers ₹500 above the MSP, while Odisha provides ₹800. Our farmers are left with a mere ₹50 profit per quintal, barely covering their rising cultivation costs.”
Dr. Ramadoss also condemned reports of corruption within the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, alleging that employees at direct purchase centers (DPCs) are demanding bribes from farmers. He urged the DPC staff to cease this practice and called on the state government to significantly increase its contribution to the paddy purchase price, setting a target of ₹3,500 per quintal to provide much-needed relief to struggling farmers.
Furthermore, Dr. Ramadoss emphasized the need for improved infrastructure at DPCs to minimize paddy wastage due to adverse weather conditions. He addressed rallies later in the day in Kumbakonam and Nannilam, continuing his campaign to advocate for the rights of Tamil Nadu farmers. The current situation threatens the livelihoods of countless farmers in the region and demands urgent attention from the state government.