Farmers' organisations in Tamil Nadu have urged the Centre to announce an interim increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural commodities, including paddy, citing a sharp rise in fuel and fertiliser costs alongside growing uncertainty over weather patterns linked to a possible El Niño event in 2026. The demand comes ahead of the rollout of revised MSP rates for the 2026-27 marketing year, set to take effect from 1 September.

The MSP Announcement and Farmer Discontent

The Centre had announced revised MSP rates on 13 May, raising the procurement price of both common and fine varieties of paddy by ₹72 per quintal. However, farmer representatives contend that this increase falls well short of offsetting the escalating cost of cultivation. The MSP for agricultural commodities is fixed annually by the Government of India based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which accounts for production costs, market trends, demand-supply conditions, and broader economic factors.

Key Demands from Farmer Groups

Swamimalai S. Vimalnathan, Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, said the conditions prevailing at the time of the MSP announcement had changed considerably since. He urged the Union government to reconvene the CACP in August and undertake a fresh review of support prices before the new procurement season begins. He also appealed to Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu to collectively raise the issue with the Centre and press for a revision of MSP rates.

According to Vimalnathan, continuing geopolitical tensions in West Asia have already pushed fuel prices higher and could trigger further increases in the coming months, compounding the financial burden on farmers.

El Niño Threat and Climate Uncertainty

Farmers have also expressed concern over reports of a rapidly developing El Niño phenomenon during 2026. Experts have warned that unusual warming in the Pacific Ocean could disrupt global rainfall patterns, affecting agricultural production and heightening financial risks for cultivators. Bhaskar Raj, a retired scientist and environmentalist, said climate-related uncertainties must be factored into agricultural policy decisions, noting that shifting weather patterns could result in reduced crop yields and greater financial stress for farming communities.

Fertiliser Prices Add to Farmer Burden

A further pressure point is the recent spike in fertiliser prices. Farmers report that the prices of potash, ammonium sulphate, and NPK fertilisers have risen by ₹50 to ₹400 per 50-kg bag in recent weeks. Meyyazhagan, a farmer from Thiruverumbur, said an interim MSP hike would provide much-needed relief and help cultivators manage mounting input costs during an increasingly difficult agricultural season.

With the procurement season approaching and input costs rising on multiple fronts, the pressure on the Centre to revisit support prices before September is set to intensify.