The district administration has decided to take a group of 30 sugarcane farmers in the district on a tour to Sugarcane Research Station in Cuddalore for learning about new varieties of cane and the methodologies adopted to cultivate them.
Making an announcement in this regard at the farmers’ grievances day meeting here on Friday, Collector L. Subramanian directed Joint Director of Agriculture Jaisingh Gnanadurai to make arrangements for the visit and asked interested farmers to register their names.
He also agreed to a suggestion made by one of the farmers to hold a seminar here on the latest trends in sugarcane cultivation by inviting eminent agricultural scientists.
The Collector further promised to look into sugarcane farmers’ demand for compensation for loss of crop. On the threat of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock, he said so far 1.87 lakh vaccines had been administered in the district.
All-out efforts were being taken to control the disease and about 110 officers, including veterinarians and livestock inspectors, were involved in the job, he added.
When farmers complained of government-authorised drip irrigation companies making illegal demand of money by quoting higher prices than the market rates for equipment such as pipes and gate valves, he asked the Horticulture Department officials here to take the issue to the knowledge of their Director.
During the course of the meeting, N. Palanisamy, president, Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Growers’ Association, urged the district administration to initiate stern action against politicians, government officials and private quarry lessees involved in the multi-crore granite scam in the district.
Replying to it, the Collector said the State government would pursue the matter as the Supreme Court had recently dismissed a case filed by a granite baron challenging the action initiated against his company.
