A demonstration was staged under the aegis of the Nilgiris District Small Flower Growers Association opposite the Collectorate here on Thursday.
Led by the president of the association N. Vishwanathan, the demonstration condemned the alleged callous attitude of the Department of Horticulture to their plight.
Adverting to their problems, which included poor yield on account of sub-standard planting materials, high cost of cultivation and poor marketing, they listed the steps being taken by them to get their grievances redressed.
They claimed that the Horticulture Department had made an ‘insensitive' remark while referring to an observation of the floriculturists that the mounting problems had become a matter of life or death for them.
The Department had reportedly recorded that only medical personnel can handle psychological problems.
However, the Joint Director of Horticulture in-charge, J. Haldorai, while reacting to the allegation said that the members of the association are threatening to take the extreme step, if their grievances relating particularly to waiver of bank loans are not redressed.
The Department had made it clear it was not competent to deal with ‘suicide threats' of farmers. It had also assured them that arrangements for horticulture counselling by experts can be made.
Pointing out that there were 527 floriculturists in the district, he claimed that the majority of them are cultivating flowers without complaints. In whatever manner possible the department is helping the flower growers. Loan waiver is a policy matter which is governed by Reserve Bank of India guidelines, he pointed out.
