CHENNAI: State Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department, MRK Panneerselvam, on Saturday responded to allegations made by opposition leaders Edappadi K Palaniswami and K Annamalai, regarding paddy procurement delays and crop damage in the Delta districts, asserting that the government has taken extensive and timely measures to support farmers and safeguard the kuruvai crops.

Addressing reporters at the Secretariat, the minister said the opposition was "politicising paddy procurement without understanding agriculture or ground realities." He noted that heavy rain followed immediately after the onset of the North East Monsoon this year, making early harvesting impossible. "Paddy can only be harvested after ripening. Advising farmers to harvest before maturity shows ignorance,

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