Kodagu's Paddy Procurement Centers See Minimal Farmer Participation
In a stark contrast to the widespread farmer protests demanding the commencement of procurement operations in other districts, the government-run paddy procurement centers in Kodagu district have remained largely idle and inactive. These centers, which were established with the primary objective of providing crucial support prices to local cultivators, have received an exceptionally poor and disappointing response from the agricultural community in the region.
Alarming Registration Numbers and Lack of Sales
Since the registration window officially opened on October 15 and is scheduled to run until December 31, only a mere three farmers have come forward to enroll in the program. Collectively, these individuals have registered a total of 150 quintals of paddy for potential sale. However, in a further blow to the initiative's viability, not a single farmer has actually transported or delivered any paddy to the designated procurement centers for sale as of the latest reports.
The procurement centers were strategically set up at key locations across the district to maximize accessibility and convenience. These include the Rural Marketing Centers (RMCs) in Somwarpet, Gonikoppa, Kushalnagar, and Madikeri, along with an additional center situated at the agriculture department premises in Virajpet.
Key Factors Behind the Poor Response
Several interconnected factors have contributed to this significant lack of engagement and participation from Kodagu's farming community:
- Financial Disincentive: The government has fixed the official procurement price at Rs 2,369 per quintal. However, private traders and market intermediaries in the region are reportedly offering substantially higher rates, ranging from Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,500 per quintal. This price differential makes private sales a far more attractive and lucrative option for farmers seeking to maximize their income.
- Logistical and Payment Hurdles: Farmers have highlighted that participating in the government scheme requires them to personally arrange and bear the cost of transporting their paddy harvest to the procurement centers. Furthermore, payments for their produce are typically processed and received only after a delay of several days. In contrast, private traders often provide the convenience of directly collecting the produce from the farm gates and offering quicker, more immediate payments.
- Historical Decline of Paddy Cultivation: Paddy cultivation, which was once a widespread and dominant agricultural practice across Kodagu district, has experienced a steady and pronounced decline over recent years. This downturn is attributed to a combination of challenging factors, including frequent and destructive attacks by elephants and other wildlife, unpredictable and unfavourable weather patterns, and persistently low profitability that has made the crop less economically viable for many farmers.
Broader Implications and Context
The support-price scheme was specifically designed and implemented to encourage and revitalize paddy cultivation in regions like Kodagu. However, it has clearly failed to gain any meaningful traction or acceptance among the local farming populace. This situation in Kodagu presents a unique and contrasting scenario compared to other districts in the state, where farmers have been actively protesting and demanding the swift initiation of procurement operations to ensure they receive the promised support prices for their crops.
The current scenario underscores a critical disconnect between policy intentions and on-ground realities. It highlights the need for a more nuanced and farmer-centric approach that addresses not only price parity but also the practical logistical and financial challenges faced by the agricultural community. The future of such support schemes may depend on their ability to adapt and offer competitive, convenient solutions that align with the evolving dynamics of the agricultural market and the pressing needs of farmers.
