Lok Sabha Question No. 21 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Issues faced by Paddy Farmers in Palakkad
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 21

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02 ND  DECEMBER, 2025

## ISSUES FACED BY PADDY FARMERS IN PALAKKAD

## *21. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that an expert delegation from the Union Government visited key paddy producing regions in Palakkad district in Kerala recently;
- (b) if so, whether it is also true that the team interacted with paddy farmers across multiple locations and held detailed discussions to understand the ground realities, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether farmers and representatives of various agricultural organizations have urged the  team  to  recommend  a  special  financial  package  for  Palakkad  which  holds  the distinction of being the highest paddy producing district in the State of Kerala;
- (d) whether the farmers are facing crisis triggered by delayed procurement and payment even after the harvest seasons had begun and the steep rise in production costs and urged for corresponding needs for an increase in Minimum Support Price; and
- (e) if so, whether the Government is considering a special package and proposes to take steps to address the issues of paddy farmers in Palakkad, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  IN  RESPECT  OF  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.21  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  02 ND   DECEMBER,  2025  REGARDING ' ISSUES FACED BY PADDY FARMERS IN PALAKKAD'.

(a) to (c): An interdepartmental team comprising of two senior officers from DA&FW and four scientists from Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Indian Institute of Rice Research,  Department  of  Agricultural  Research  and  Education  (DARE)  visited  paddy cultivation areas of Alappuzha, Thrissur and Palakkad Districts of Kerala from 23.09.2025 to 26.09.2025.

The team carried out field visits in lower Kuttanad area (Alappuzha), Thrissur and Palakkad  districts  and  conducted  series  of  consultations  with  all  relevant  stakeholders, including representatives of social organizations, members of the Padasekhara Samitis, Panchayat  representatives,  farmers'  associations,  farm  labourers,  women,  government officials from line departments, subject-area experts, academia, civil society groups, nongovernmental organizations. Meetings were held with stakeholders in all these districts.

The team identified the problems of paddy farming in these districts which included high cost of paddy production, delayed payment of paddy procurement, payment in the form  of  Paddy  Receipt  Slips  (PRS)  loans,  need  for  proper  storage  and  ware-housing leading to prevent pest and disease attacks, infrastructure related problems for bailing out of water and its carriage from paddy fields etc.

(d): Kerala is  a  Decentralised  Procurement (DCP) state  for procurement  of paddy  at Minimum Support Price (MSP). The state government of Kerala has informed that during the initial stages of the procurement cycle this crop season, several rice mills were reluctant to undertake procurement, resulting in interruptions in paddy lifting and efforts were made to address and resolve the challenges involved. To support the farmers, the procurement of  paddy in Kerala is done at MSP declared by the Central Government and additional incentive bonus given by the State. The department of food and public distribution have further informed that so far, procurement has been done from 1256 farmers in Palakkad district.

(e): At present, there is no such specific proposal for Palakkad district. The Government of  India  is  implementing  various programmes in the state  of Kerala for the  welfare  and benefit of farmers. To enhance food security and nutrition, assistance is being provided to the  farmers  through  the  National  Food  Security  and  Nutrition  Mission  (NFSNM),  for increasing the production and productivity of various crops including Rice. The scheme is being  implemented  through  the  state  and  interventions  based  on  the  approved  annual action plan, includes demonstrations on latest crop production & protection technologies, distribution of certified seeds, integrated nutrient and pest management measures, capacity building  of  farmers  through  cropping  system-based  trainings,  etc.  The  state  is  also implementing various schemes aimed at the upliftment of paddy farmers in Palakkad district including Rice Development Programme apart from other infrastructure support.

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