Tamil Nadu to raise paddy procurement rates to ₹2,500

The Tamil Nadu government plans to increase paddy procurement rates to ₹2,500 per quintal soon. Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam announced this in the Assembly on Friday. He explained that the current rate is ₹2,450, but it will be raised as promised. The government has already provided ₹5,279 crore in insurance compensation to farmers affected by various issues. Additionally, about 23.68 lakh free electricity connections have been given to farmers. Panneerselvam noted that good rainfall occurred during their administration, allowing for successful cultivation without opening the Mettur dam last year. He emphasized that the government has consulted with around 4,400 farmers over the past four years. This led to the resolution of 1,166 out of 2,535 demands, which has reduced the number of protests. The Agriculture Budget for 2025-26 includes plans to set up 1,000 Chief Minister’s Farmers Service Centres.