The Tamil Nadu government would grant the procurement rates for paddy at ₹2,500 per quintal in the coming days, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare M.R.K. Panneerselvam said in the Assembly on Friday.
“The rate now is ₹2,450. We had assured ₹2,500. In the coming stages, the rate ₹2,500 would be granted,” the Minister said, during his reply to the debate on the Agriculture Budget for 2025-26 in the House.
Insurance compensation to the tune of ₹5,279 crore have been disbursed to affected farmers so far, he said. About 23.68 lakh free electricity connections have been given to farmers, he said.
“There have been good rains during our regime. Last year, there was cultivation even without opening the Mettur dam. Because, there will be rains only if good people rule. Even during drought, rains shower unexpectedly,” he said.
During the past four years, the government held 28 consultations with about 4,400 farmers and received a total of 2,535 demands. “Only because we resolved 1,166 of the demands, there has not been demands or protests,” the Minister said.
Mr. Panneerselvam also pointed out the Agriculture Budget for 2025-26 has announced that 1,000 Chief Minister’s Farmers Service Centres would be established.
Published - March 21, 2025 07:50 pm IST
