TIRUCHY: Even as the Dravidian majors have announced an increase in minimum support price (MSP) for paddy in their election manifesto, farmers in the delta districts have insisted that whichever party forms government should implement the promise immediately on assuming office and not make them wait till the last year of its tenure.
The AIADMK, in its manifesto, has promised to fix MSP for paddy at Rs 3,500 a quintal and sugarcane at Rs 4,500 a quintal. The DMK has also assured a similar hike in MSP. Farmers alleged that the DMK took five years to fulfil its 2021 promise of increasing MSP to Rs 2,545 for fine variety paddy and Rs 2,500 for common variety, and Rs 3,500 per quintal of sugarcane. " There should be a clear time limit and guarantee on when the price for paddy and sugarcane will be increased," said Swamimalai S Vimalnathan, secretary of Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association.
"Farmers should not be cheated by effecting a hike in the fifth year after coming to power. By 2031, the minimum price for a quintal of paddy should be Rs 5,500 and sugarcane Rs 7,000," he said.
Vayalur N Rajendran, state treasurer of farmers' wing of Tamil Manila Congress, said, "Whichever party forms government should hike the MSP at least before the end of the first year."
While welcoming the DMK's announcement of increasing MSP, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam (affiliated to CPI) Ayilai Siva Suriyan said, "We expect the announcement will be implemented without much delay."
Meanwhile, PR Pandian, president of Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu, said farmers are not ready to believe any promises given by the DMK because of its past record. "Stalin had earlier said that farmers' lands would not be acquired for other purposes without their permission. However, the DMK government introduced the Tamil Nadu Land Consolidation Act, 2023, which is seen an attempt to take over not only farmers' lands but also waterbodies. This Act should be repealed," he said