Upper Kuttanad farmers to boycott upcoming paddy season over payment delays

Frustrated by prolonged delays in receiving payments for procured paddy, farmers in Upper Kuttanad are preparing to intensify their protest.

As part of it, farmers from the M.N. Block paddy fields in Kumarakom have resolved to boycott paddy cultivation for the upcoming puncha season. The M.N. Block Padashekhara Samiti, which oversees cultivation across 1,300 acres, announced the decision after repeated discussions with Supplyco failed to yield any progress regarding the disbursement of pending payments. The M.N. Block is among the largest paddy-growing regions in the district, covering areas under the Kumarakom and Thiruvarppu Krishi Bhavans and comprising five group farming committees.

In addition to the payment crisis, the Samiti has flagged several other pressing issues that have contributed to their decision including the failure to provide quality seeds on time, the absence of price revisions despite rising costs of fertilisers, pesticides and labour and mounting expenses due to stagnant subsidies for water pumping.

The Samiti’s resolution was formally communicated to relevant authorities, including the Principal Agricultural Officer, said T.K. Sasidharan Thottupuram, General Convener of the Padashekhara Samiti.

Reports indicate that ₹89.5 crore remains outstanding to farmers for the paddy procured in the season that ended in May. Of this, only ₹27.6 crore has been disbursed so far.

Supplyco issues payments as loans against Paddy Receipt Sheets (PRS), which serve as the official confirmation of procurement. These PRS-based loans function as the farmers’ actual payment, and the current delays are severely hampering preparations for the upcoming puncha season across Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad. For many farmers, these payments are essential to fund the next cycle of cultivation.

M.K. Dileep, Secretary of the Upper Kuttanad Karshika Vikasana Samiti, urged the Centre to immediately release the ₹1,100 crore owed to the State for paddy procurement, instead of citing technicalities to delay it further.

“We also call on the state government to present a dedicated budget for the agricultural sector, rather than allocating funds piecemeal through various departments. Only a separate, sector-specific allocation can effectively address the challenges faced by paddy farmers,” he said.