Paddy farmers in the district are worried over the delay in announcement about paddy procurement by the government. Although it will take two to three weeks for largescale harvesting of paddy, several farmers in the western part of the district have already started harvesting their crops.
Farmers suspect that the delay in announcement of the procurement schedule by the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) is a result of the influence being exerted on the government by the rice mills in the State. Farmers fear that delay in the procurement of the harvested paddy will force them to sell their produce directly to the rice mills at a rate dictated by the latter.
Muthalanthodu Mani, general secretary of the Desiya Karshaka Samajam (DKS), told The Hindu that the process of procurement would take at least two weeks even after its announcement. He said any further delay in announcing the procurement schedule would cause angst for the farmers.
