Alappuzha: The post-flood harvesting season of Puncha in Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, has come to an end yielding a bumper crop for farmers.
According to Supplyco officials, the production of the crop went up by 20-50 per cent although the procurement process began earlier in January remains unfinished.
Officials said they had procured 172,790.712 metric tonnes of paddy so far and 25 per cent harvested crop is remaining.
“A total of Rs 254 crore has been paid for 17,943 farmers in the district so far. The production of the crop last season was 153,367.534 metric tonne,” said S. Geetha, paddy marketing officer. This time, following the devastating flood, the farmers had launched puncha crops in September in a total of 76,000 acres, additional 7,000 acres compared to last season.
Amritha Kumar, a farmer at Mathoor Padasekharam, Nedumudy, in which 240 farmers launch crops, said that this time average 35 quintal crops per acre was received. However, many farmers have not been paid as yet.
“Though crops worth Rs 13 lakh was procured by Supplyco in March, Rs 8 lakh remains unpaid for me. All 240 farmers here are undergoing the same situation. It happens due to a tacit understanding of banks with officials. Banks save lakhs in interest from the delay of every single day,” he alleges.
C.K. Maniyan, another farmer from Kanakkassery of Kainakary, is concerned that 87 farmers in Meenappally padasekaharam remain unpaid though procurement completed in March.
“For me alone, Rs 2.60 lakh left unpaid. We produce crops worth Rs 15,000 per acre. The harvesting rate has skyrocketed. This time we brought in harvesting machines from Tamil Nadu for Rs 1,850 per hour. The government machines kept ill-maintained for years allowing private parties and agents to loot farmers,” he says.
