Kerala Assembly: Opposition accuses LDF government of neglecting paddy farmers, stages walkout

UDF accuses Kerala government of neglecting paddy farmers, siding with mill owners in procurement process, leading to protests.

The Opposition Congress-led UDF walked out of the Kerala Assembly in protest on Monday (March 17, 2025) accusing the ruling LDF government of neglecting paddy farmers and taking the side of mill owners in the paddy procurement process.

The Opposition alleged that the government is supporting mill owners and their agents in pressuring farmers into accepting procurement discounts for lifting their harvested paddy. Farmers have been forced to concede to such demands, the Opposition said, citing the example of the ‘J-block 9000 padasekharam’ in Thiruvarppu panchayat, Kottayam.

Here, farmers were forced to accept a 2% procurement discount (2 kg ‘kizhivu’ per quintal) for their paddy. The harvested paddy had been lying uncollected for 17 days. “Next year, the farmers will be forced to concede a 3% discount, and the year after that, 4% and 5%,” said Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan.

Mr. Satheesan announced the walkout soon after a motion moved by the UDF’s Anoop Jacob to adjourn the day’s business and discuss the delay in lifting the harvested paddy from Kuttanad and nearby paddy-growing regions was declined.

The J-block padasekharam has never had to concede a discount in the past. The government was helping the millers impose a procurement discount where such a thing did not exist, Mr. Jacob said.

The government should explain whether they are on the side of the millers or the farmers, Mr. Satheesan said.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil countered the UDF onslaught saying that the problem in J-Block has been resolved, and 17 loads of paddy were transported on Sunday. Accusing Mr. Jacob of misleading the House, Mr. Anil said the adjournment motion would have been relevant four days ago, but not now.