Chennai: While farmers’ associations have welcomed the increase in incentive payments for paddy and sugarcane, some political parties have said it is not sufficient.
In the statements they issued in this regard, they said:
PMK leader Anbumani: The incentive payment announced by the TVK government for paddy procured by the government has been increased to Rs. 289 for fine variety paddy, Rs. 159 for common variety paddy, and Rs. 709.50 for sugarcane. This is not sufficient. The government should come forward to provide Rs. 1,117 as the incentive amount for sugarcane.
Tamaka leader G.K. Vasan: The Taveka government's announcement of an increase in incentive payments for paddy and sugarcane along with the support price is welcome. We hope that this government will also consider farmers' other demands and fulfill them step by step.
AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran: Taveka, which promised during the election that paddy would be given at Rs. 3,500 per quintal and sugarcane at Rs. 4,500 per ton, refusing to fully implement it after coming to power is a betrayal inflicted on farmers.
Tamil Nadu Farmers Association General Secretary P.S. Masilamani: It is commendable that, accepting the demand made by the sugarcane farmers’ association leader at the Cuddalore conference, the government has announced an additional Rs. 709.50 per tonne. We expect the government to also fully waive agricultural loans.
Tamil Nadu Farmers Association State General Secretary Sami. Natarajan: The increase in the incentive amount for both paddy and sugarcane to an unprecedented level is welcome.
We consider this an act that has understood the hardships of Tamil Nadu farmers. Along with this, the cooperative crop loan waiver should also be announced as promised in the election manifesto.
Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers Association State General Secretary T. Ravindran: When the BJP government had announced only Rs. 3,290 per tonne of sugarcane, the TVK government’s announcement of Rs. 4,000 by adding Rs. 709.50 as an incentive is welcome. For this, thanks to the TVK government and the Chief Minister.
The government should allocate funds to reopen the closed cooperative sugar mills in Tamil Nadu and renovate the old mills. They said this.
