Palakkad: Paddy farmers in the districted expressed disappointment over the measures taken by the finance minister in the state budget to compensate the huge losses suffered by them due to the drought in Palakkad and across the state. Muthalamthodu Mani of Desiya Karshaka Samajam, an independent organisation of farmers, told DC that the allotment of Rs 700 crore for procuring paddy would not be of any help to the farmers who had already suffered losses in the first phase of paddy cultivation in the district.
“Due to acute shortage of water, the second phase of cultivation will suffer more loss. But no special relief package was announced for the paddy farmers,” he noted. He also said that the sum of Rs 27 crore allotted for the paddy farmers committee as aid was so low as it has to be distributed among paddy farmers across the state.
Mega Projects
Funds for three mega projects were announced for the district in the budget speech. The projects are Palakkad IIT, Palakkad Mega Food Park and Ottappalam Defence Park.
