Kerala - Alappuzha   

Antony blames LDF government for crop loss

ALAPPUZHA: Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony has said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala “failed miserably” in taking appropriate action to help farmers in Kuttanad and to prevent large-scale crop loss that was caused by disagreements between farmers and farm labours here.

Inaugurating the Alappuzha District Conference of the Congress here on Saturday, Mr. Antony said it was the State government’s responsibility to prevent loss of even a single grain of rice when the State’s food security was in a fragile condition. However, when the farmer-labourer relations became strained in Kuttanad, leading to delays in harvest and thereby losses in rice stocks, the LDF government remained a mute spectator.

“Tonnes of precious paddy were lost because the LDF failed to intervene on time. Instead, the State government was bent on blaming the Union government for its woes. The LDF should first heal itself before poking accusing fingers at others,” Mr. Antony said.

The slash in the State’s rice quota from the Central pool was not an overnight decision. All the States, with the exception of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, had failed to procure and supply the required amount of essential goods to the Central pool last year, which affected proper distribution of supplies to the Public Distribution System (PDS). Failure to lift its share of rice in recent years too turned out to be detrimental to Kerala.

However, the troubles due to the slash in quota were temporary issues which would soon be sorted out. The State’s quota would be restored, but for that the State would have to remember to do its duties properly, Mr. Antony said.

Earlier, the Defence Minister said the United Progressive Alliance government was the most benevolent to Kerala.

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