Hiccups continue to mar paddy procurement at several places in Kuttanad, leaving farmers in distress.
Farmers say that agents of mills are demanding huge discounts to procure harvested paddy citing discolouration, high chaff content and shriveled grains. As a result, harvested paddy has been lying in polders in a number of places for several days, awaiting procurement.
Ryots of a polder under the Nedumudi Krishi Bhavan says that agents are demanding a discount of 6.5 kg per quintal of paddy. However, after the initial delay, procurement has begun at the 365-acre Munduthodu Polathuruthu paddy polder under the Veeyapuram Krishi Bhavan after farmers agreed to a one kg discount per quintal.
Poor quality rice
Earlier, several mills submitted letters refusing to procure paddy from certain polders citing poor quality rice. “There are issues in the procurement. While the process started at some polders after a delay, the harvested paddy is still lying on some fields because mills are reluctant to procure it. The overall quality of paddy this ‘puncha’ season is slightly lower compared to previous seasons,” says a Supplyco official.
Farmers have cultivated paddy in around 600 polders, spread across 26,414 hectares, a majority of them in Kuttanad during the ‘puncha’ season in the district. At present, 52 mills are engaged in paddy procurement.
As of Friday, Supplyco procured 15,739.24 tonnes of paddy from the district. Officials say that 28.14% of the total cultivated area has been harvested. The standoff between farmers and mills comes as large-scale harvesting and procurement reach full swing. Around 350 polders are expected to go under combine harvesters in March and another 150 in April.
High salinity
According to farmers, high salinity levels in waterbodies have affected paddy cultivation in several places, leading to lower yields.
As per the initial assessment by Supplyco, 1,28,357.94 tonnes of paddy is expected to be procured from Alappuzha in the ‘puncha’ season. Procurement is expected to continue until the end of May.
Published – March 14, 2025 06:08 pm IST
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