Farmers in Kerala’s Thrissur await over ₹10 crore in paddy dues as Onam nears
Paddy farmers in Kerala's Thrissur district are facing a financial crisis as they await over ₹10 crore in pending payments from the state government. The delay in procurement funds has caused anxiety ahead of the Onam festival, prompting farmers to plan protests.
Why it matters
The situation underscores the economic vulnerability of agricultural workers and the impact of government payment delays on rural livelihoods.
Hundreds of paddy farmers in Thrissur district are anxiously awaiting more than ₹10 crore in pending payments for paddy procured by the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco), with uncertainty over the release of funds casting a shadow over the upcoming Onam season.
Farmers said they were yet to receive payment for the Mundakan crop harvested during January and February and the Puncha crop procured during April and May. They alleged that there was no clarity on when the dues would be credited.
According to farmers, more than ₹3 crore remains pending for cultivators in Punnayurkulam, Vadekkad and Punnayur grama panchayats alone. A total of 329 farmers from the three panchayats sold their paddy to Supplyco, but more than half of them are yet to receive payment.
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