Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has urged the Centre to take immediate steps to support the state’s farmers who are facing serious distress after a bumper paddy harvest.
His appeal comes a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Coimbatore for a major farmers’ programme.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Stalin said paddy arrivals at procurement centres have risen sharply. By November 16, 1.86 lakh metric tonnes had already reached the centres. He said this has created heavy pressure on storage and procurement operations.
Stalin placed three key demands before the Centre.
He asked for an increase in the paddy procurement target for Tamil Nadu beyond the current ceiling for KMS 2025-26. He sought a relaxation of the moisture content norm from 17% to 22% due to recent rains. He also requested permission to pack Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) in 50 kg bags instead of 25 kg bags to speed up mill operations.
He said the state has 1,760 rice mills, including 123 that are approved for FRK blending. But the existing packing and storage restrictions are slowing procurement. Stalin also reminded the Centre that past joint reviews with FCI officials had highlighted issues of excess production, high arrivals, and storage constraints. He said the measures he has sought are essential to prevent losses for farmers this season.
Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Coimbatore tomorrow to inaugurate the South India Natural Farming Summit. During the event, he will release the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN. This amounts to ₹18,000 crore for nine crore farmers across India.
The three-day summit will bring together more than 50,000 farmers, experts, and stakeholders from six southern states. It will showcase natural farming models, organic inputs, and innovations that promote eco-friendly agriculture.
The Prime Minister will also hold a roadshow in Coimbatore. The BJP has a comparatively stronger base in the city. In the 2021 Assembly elections, BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan won the Coimbatore South seat, defeating MNM chief Kamal Haasan by a narrow margin. The party continues to strengthen its presence ahead of the 2026 polls.