Kerala - Alappuzha   

UDF demands harvest machines for all paddy fields in the State

For the cause of farmers: United Democratic Front leaders engaged in symbolic paddy harvest using a harvest machine at the Maradakari Padasekharam at Kidangara, near Alappuzha, on Wednesday.

ALAPPUZHA: Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy has demanded that the State government supply harvest machines to all paddy fields.

Inaugurating a symbolic paddy harvest using a harvest machine at the Maradakari Padasekharam at Kidangara, near here, on Wednesday, Mr. Chandy said the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was deliberately creating fissures between farmers and farm labourers on the pretext of fighting for the rights of the latter. This is contradictory to the basic principle of agriculture that farmers and labourers move in harmony for cultivation to be successful, he said.

No farmer in Kuttanad opposed work for labourers. However, there was a genuine shortage of labourers and that was why harvest machines were being used.

The CPI(M), instead of helping the farmers, was exploiting the situation and thereby destroying the agricultural fabric of the region, he alleged.

The symbolic harvest would be the first step in the United Democratic Front’s fight to “attain freedom for farmers and labourers.” The front would also submit a comprehensive action plan to the government to ensure successful farming in Kuttanad, he said.

Mr. Chandy, alleging that the government’s declared assistance of Rs.12 crore for rain-hit paddy farmers was inadequate, said the actual losses were over Rs.50 crore. The assistance should be hiked to at least Rs.50 crore and the government had to make arrangements for procurement of the entire paddy crop, whether it was damaged or not.

Daring CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan to face paddy farmers in Kuttanad, Mr. Chandy said the State government was attempting to sabotage farmer-friendly schemes initiated by the Union government.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala, UDF convener P.P. Thankachan, Kerala Congress(M) leader K.M. Mani, Kerala Congress(B) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai, Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader T.M. Jacob, Kerala Congress(S) leader P.C. George, C.F. Thomas, K.C. Joseph, K.C. Venugopal, B. Babu Prasad and P.C. Vishnunath, MLAs, DCC president A.A. Shukoor, UDF district chairman C.R. Jayaprakash, former Minister Babu Divakaran and others were present.

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