Paddy farmers protest against 'anti-farmer' policies of state govt

PADDY FARMERS at Kuzhalmannam have taken out a march to the office of the Kuzhalmannam assistant director of Agriculture, in protest against 'anti-farmer' policies of the state government.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Palakkad

In the protest, led by the Kuzhalmannam Block Padasekhara Samiti Coordination Committee, farmers expressed their anger over the government for ignoring paddy growers for the past three years, including reducing financial aid provided by the Central government.

Key demands raised by the farmers included waiving Paddy Receipt Sheet (PRS) loans and providing direct payments, clearing pending farmer pension arrears, addressing wild animal menace affecting crops and paying transport fees to Supplyco.

The protesters urged the authorities to address their grievances urgently to support the struggling farming community.

Farmers also called for the creation of a district paddy board for Palakkad, similar to the Kuttanad package, to address their issues effectively.