THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The editorial published by Kerala Kaumudi on Wednesday titled 'We should show empathy to paddy farmers', highlighting the plight of paddy farmers, was discussed in the cabinet meeting. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed that the problems of paddy farmers highlighted in the editorial be urgently resolved.

As part of this, Finance Minister KN Balagopal and Food Minister GR Anil will hold discussions with representatives of mill owners who are not procuring paddy. With the paddy procurement getting back to normal, other issues faced by farmers mentioned in the Kerala Kaumudi editorial can also be resolved.

The demands put forward by the mill owners' association include increasing the handling cost, increasing the out-turn of the stored paddy to 64.5 per cent from 6

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