Thiruvananthapuram: While substantial funds are being allocated for the ‘Keraleeyam’ initiative, the government finds itself owing crores to Kerafed for their coconut procurement efforts. Kerafed currently owes Rs. 18 crore to coconut farmers, leaving them in a dire financial predicament, forcing them to resort to selling coconuts in the open market, all while awaiting their rightful payments.
The government had entrusted Kerafed with the task of procuring mature coconuts at a minimum support price, aiming to shield farmers from potential losses when selling their produce in the public market. Unfortunately, despite several months having passed since the coconut procurement, Kerafed has failed to compensate the farmers.
In the public market, coconut farmers receive only Rs. 29 per kilogram, prompting them to increasingly rely on these sales due to the urgent need for income, even if it means incurring losses. Kerafed officials have cited the delay in receiving funds from the state government as the primary reason for this backlog. They have assured that the outstanding payments to farmers will be settled within the current month.
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