Farmers of the central districts have welcomed the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to continue the incentive for paddy to benefit the farmers in the State, despite the Central government’s directive to withdraw the incentive concession.
A number of farmers representing various associations have said that the State government’s stand will help increase paddy productivity and will be a great source of support in the wake of rise in the cultivation cost.
P. Viswanathan, State president of Tamizhaga Eri Matrum Aatru Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam, said that the Central government’s directive banning the incentive has come as a shock to the delta farmers, as it deviated a system introduced in 2002.
However referring to the status quo stand by the State government, he thanked the Chief Minister for her gesture.
He said the State government’s per quintal procurement price at Rs. 1,470 for fine variety and Rs. 1,410 for common variety of paddy, which included an incentive of Rs. 70 and Rs. 50 respectively, and the Chief Minister’s announcement on the floor of the Assembly guaranteeing incentive to the paddy farmers has come as a big relief.
A.Nagarajan, state vice president of Congress farmers’ wing, said the State government’s announcement on the procurement policy without any downward revision has been widely welcomed by the farming community.
At a time when the cultivation cost is on the rise and farmers had to incur huge expenditure in the wake of failure of monsoon, the Chief Minister’s clarification has come as a great support.