Palakkad: The paddy farmers here have opposed charging for loading and unloading by private mill owners even after the government has hiked the handing charges. The private to mill owners are authorized to procure paddy on behalf of Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Suolyco), the agency appointed by the state government for paddy procurement. In a statement here on Sunday the Desheeya Karshaka Samajam general secretary Muthalamthode Mani said that the government had recently hiked the handing charges by Rs 30 per quintal of paddy due to the strike by mill owners. With this additional payment the mill owners will now get a total of Rs 190 per quintal for paddy including the loading and unloading charges. But despite the like he mill owners are still charges from farmers. The government should take action against those exhorting money from the farmers, the statement said.
