Delta farmers welcome higher incentives for sugarcane, paddy
Farmers' organizations in Tamil Nadu have welcomed the government's increased incentives for paddy and sugarcane but expressed disappointment that the amounts fall short of election promises. Leaders are calling for the government to fulfill its pledge of higher procurement prices and provide debt relief to farmers.
Why it matters
The tension between government fiscal policy and agricultural support prices remains a significant political issue for rural constituencies.
While welcoming Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s announcement in the Legislative Assembly on Monday on the increase in incentive for paddy and sugarcane, farmers organisations in the delta region, however, insisted that the TVK government should implement its poll promise of providing ₹3,500 a quintal of paddy and ₹4,500 a tonne of sugarcane at the earliest.
The incentives are offered by the State government over and above the minimum support price fixed by the Centre.
“We welcome the Chief Minister’s announcement on increasing the incentives, thereby giving priority for farmers despite the financial constraints. But the poll promise of TVK on the procurement prices should be implemented. We expect an announcement on the full crop loan waiver for small and marginal farmers and 50% waiver for big farmers as promised by the TVK,” said P.R. Pandian, president, Coordination Committee of All Farmers’ Associations of Tamil Nadu.
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