Calling the rejection “yet another betrayal,” Stalin questioned why the Prime Minister did not heed Tamil Nadu’s appeal at a time when farmers were in distress.
Published Nov 20, 2025 | 4:23 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 20, 2025 | 4:23 PM
Paddy crop. Representational Image. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: The state had sought relaxation in norms after heavy rains damaged paddy in several districts, leaving farmers unable to meet the existing moisture standards. Calling the rejection “yet another betrayal,” Stalin questioned why the Prime Minister did not heed Tamil Nadu’s appeal at a time when farmers were in distress.
The Union government has rejected Tamil Nadu’s request to increase the permissible moisture content for paddy procurement from 17 percent to 22 percent, Chief Minister MK Stalin said on Thursday, 20 November.
The state had sought relaxation in norms after heavy rains damaged paddy in several districts, leaving farmers unable to meet the existing moisture standards.
Calling the rejection “yet another betrayal,” Stalin questioned why the Prime Minister did not heed Tamil Nadu’s appeal at a time when farmers were in distress.
He recalled that the Union government had approved similar requests from Tamil Nadu in the past and asked how it could claim to support farmers while denying both rain relief and relaxation in procurement norms this year.
The Chief Minister urged the BJP-led Union government to reconsider the decision, noting that it came just a day after the Prime Minister’s visit to Coimbatore, where Metro Rail proposals had earlier been turned down.
He pointed out that three central teams had already inspected rain-hit regions and collected samples, and that he had written to the prime minister earlier in the week reiterating the demand on behalf of the state’s farmers.
On Tuesday, 18 November, Chief Minister MK Stalin had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to Coimbatore, placing three urgent requests on behalf of the state’s farmers.
“With Tamil Nadu recording a bumper harvest this year and the Northeast Monsoon underway, the Chief Minister urged the Centre to allow the state to revise its current Kharif 2025–26 rice procurement target. The state seeks approval to adjust the target of 16 lakh metric tonnes to match the actual production and procurement levels,” it read.
Stalin also flagged a delay in the Union government’s decision on relaxing the permissible moisture content in paddy. “Although central teams inspected the moisture levels in Tamil Nadu on 25 October 2025, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has not yet issued orders to increase the limit from 17% to 22%, a relaxation the state says is urgently needed due to monsoon conditions.”
Further, the Chief Minister requested approval to increase the packing size of fortified rice kernels from 25 kg to 50 kg, and to raise the sample lot size from 10 MT to 25 MT. He had expressed hope that the Prime Minister would consider these demands favourably during his visit to Coimbatore.
கோவை வரும் மாண்புமிகு பிரதமர் அவர்களுக்குத் தமிழ்நாட்டு உழவர்களின் சார்பில் நமது கோரிக்கைகள்
Hon’ble Prime Minister Thiru. @narendramodi, Tamil Nadu has recorded a bumper harvest this year and in view of the #NorthEastMonsoon, I am making following urgent requests to you. I hope… pic.twitter.com/Yr4IAtkKic
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) November 18, 2025
