CHENNAI: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Coimbatore on November 19, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has placed three urgent demands before the Union government to address pressing issues faced by farmers during the ongoing kharif procurement season.
An official release from the State government on Tuesday said that the CM wrote to the Prime Minister, and subsequently shared the details on social media.
In his post, the Chief Minister highlighted that Tamil Nadu has recorded a “bumper harvest” this year and that the Northeast monsoon has further accelerated procurement operations.
In this backdrop, he urged the Prime Minister to take swift decisions in the interest of lakhs of farmers.
“I hope you will consider these requests favourably ahead of your visit to Coimbatore, ” Stalin said.
The foremost request is that the Union government allow Tamil Nadu to revise the rice procurement target for the ongoing kharif season.
While the State had sought permission to increase the target from 16 lakh metric tonnes (MT) to 20 lakh MT based on actual production estimates, the Centre has so far maintained the ceiling at 16 lakh MT.
Stalin appealed for immediate approval to expand the target in line with the surge in paddy arrivals following record output.