Facing a paddy crisis with the state government not coming forward to purchase grain for minimum support price (MSP) which resulted in distress sale, the farmers in the state seem to be planning for a crop holiday for the kharif season to come out of the crisis.

 

Reports said that while a section of the farmers went for distress sale, majority of them are thinking of opting for crop holiday indicating there will not be any sowing operations for the season.

 

“What is the use of going for the crops when there is no one to buy the paddy?” is the usual question put by farmers at almost all villages.
The government has also appointed a team of 10 IAS officers to oversee paddy procurement. But it has not helped the farmers in any way.

 

Experts feel that government could have taken certain steps to procure the paddy as there is a market for international exports. “We are at a loss to understand as to why the government is silent,” said Chengal Reddy, Secretary, Indian Consortium of Farmers.