Minister Assures Prompt Clearance of Paddy Farmers’ Dues

Quick Summary

• Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil has assured quick action to address pending payments to paddy farmers in Kerala.
• Paddy worth ₹1,645 crore was procured from 2,07,143 farmers during the 2024-25 procurement season.
• Out of this amount,₹1,399 crore has already been disbursed to farmers while ₹246 crore is still owed to 10,568 farmers.
• The delay in payments is attributed to a lag in receiving Minimum Support Price (MSP) funds from the Central government, despite additional funding of ₹113 crore sanctioned by the State government for paddy procurement.
• MSP claims for April-June have now been approved by the Centre; pending dues are expected to be credited after Onam holidays on working days.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The persistent issue of delayed payments highlights structural coordination challenges between state and Central authorities involved in MSP-related contributions.While assurances have been provided about payment timelines post-Onam holidays, such delays can strain farmer livelihoods and trust in public purchasing systems-especially for marginalized agricultural communities dependent on timely compensation during harvest seasons.

Given Kerala’s meaningful reliance on its farming sector coupled with governmental efforts like additional state sanctions (₹113 crore), addressing systemic inefficiencies that cause payment backlogs is essential not just for financial stability among farmers but also broader food security goals within the state. Ensuring seamless disbursements might require stronger intergovernmental mechanisms moving forward.

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