Pulpally: With Supplyco yet to outline its paddy procurement plans for the season, farmers in the Varavoor-Moonupalam polders are left with little choice but to sell off their harvest at whatever price the market dictates.

The freshly harvested paddy from the fields here has been packed in sacks and stored in house yards and paddy storage sheds in the fields.  But with rains continuing unabated, farmers fear that the crop could soon get damaged.

This year’s paddy production has dropped by nearly half, say the farmers, who attribute the current situation to the prolonged spell of rains. With the fields remaining water-logged, it also caused losses in hay production, adding to their worries.

Authorities have indicated that Supplyco will procure the crop at ₹30 per kilo, but official permission for procurement has not yet been granted. Faced with the challenge of safely storing their harvest, many farmers have started selling their stock to private millers, who are offering just ₹26 per kilo.

If the adverse weather and procurement delays continue, more farmers may be forced to sell at lower prices. Even during the previous punja season, farmers struggled to store their crop after harvest. Procurement began only after the paddy had been stored for several days and started to sprout, sparking widespread protests. Intervention by the Agriculture Minister eventually ensured proper procurement.

The Varavoor-Moonupalam polders, located on the banks of the Kabani river, span 40 acres. Paddy is sown early here, so the crop grows ahead of other areas. But heavy rains during the growth period have left the fields still wet, and mud accumulation has made it difficult to bring in harvesting machines to some areas. Farmers now fear that continued rain could flatten and damage the crop.

In view of the situation, farmers are demanding that the delay in paddy procurement be lifted and that the price for their harvest be finalised immediately.