AIADMK general secretary and opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami has accused the DMK government of ruining agricultural growth and failing farmers across Tamil Nadu.

 In a sharp statement following his inspection of paddy fields and procurement centres in Thanjavur and delta districts, Palaniswami said that the state’s agricultural growth rate had plunged from 4.5% in 2020–21 during the AIADMK regime to just 0.09% in 2024–25 under the DMK government.

He criticised the administration for being “indifferent and incompetent,” alleging that paddy procurement has drastically slowed, with only 800–900 sacks weighed daily compared to 1,000 under the previous AIADMK rule.

He also accused ministers of providing false information in the Assembly about procurement figures and moisture norms for harvested paddy. Highlighting the plight of delta farmers whose crops have been soaked and sprouted due to incessant rain, Palaniswami shared incidents of families who had pawned their jewellery to fund cultivation now being unable to sell their yield.