Archive · 6 Dec 2025
Delta Farmers Seek Pongal Gift Pack Revisions
Farmers in the delta region of Tamil Nadu want the government to change the items given in the Pongal gift pack.
They want to include a special kind of jaggery and give two pieces of sugarcane instead of one.
They say this will help local farmers and make the festival more meaningful.
Right now, the government gives rice, sugar, and one piece of sugarcane.
Farmers also want the government to buy sugarcane directly from them at a fair price to stop middlemen from taking too much money.
They hope this will help many families who grow sugarcane and jaggery.
Delta farmers want the Tamil Nadu government to include mould jaggery and two stems of sugarcane in the Pongal gift pack.
They argue this would support traditional farm livelihoods and ensure a more culturally authentic festival package.
Farmers claim middlemen with political backing procure sugarcane from growers at a much lower price than what the government allocates.
They propose direct procurement of sugarcane at Rs 45 per piece to ensure fair prices and transparency.
Increasing the supply to two canes per family would meet demand and help thousands of cane growers in key districts.
- Who
- Delta farmers in Tamil Nadu
- What
- Urging the government to revise the Pongal gift pack
- When
- Before the upcoming Pongal festival
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, India
- Why
- To support traditional farm livelihoods and ensure a more culturally authentic festival package
- Current Pongal Package
- Rice, sugar, one piece of sugarcane
- Farmers' Requests
- Include mould jaggery, supply two sugarcane stems, direct procurement
- Sugarcane Procurement Price
- Rs 35 allocated to contractors, Rs 13–15 paid to growers
- Proposed Sugarcane Price
- Rs 45 per piece directly to farmers
- Ration Card Holders
- 2.32 crore across Tamil Nadu
- Sugarcane Growing Districts
- Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai