Expressing concern over the scanty rainfall received by the district during the north east monsoon, farmers’ representatives on Friday called upon the government to declare the district drought-hit and extend relief to affected farmers.
The district has received 554 mm of rainfall so far against the normal annual rainfall of 762 mm. Raising the issue at the farmers grievances meeting here on Friday, P.Viswanathan, president, Tamizhaga Eri Mattrum Attru Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam, said farmers dependent on tanks and well irrigation in several blocks including Pullampadi, Thuraiyur, Uppilliyapuram, Thathaiyengarpet, Thottiyam, Manapparai, Marungapuri and Vaiyampatti could not take up cultivation.
The affected blocks should be declared drought-hit and the government should extend a relief of Rs.25,000 an acre to farmers, he demanded.
P. Ayyakannu, State Vice President, Bharathiya Kisan Sangam, said that several parts of the district, except the canal irrigated areas fed by the Cauvery, were reeling under drought conditions for the third consecutive year owing to poor monsoon.
A majority of tanks and borewells do not have adequate water to sustain cultivation. The district should be declared drought-hit and crop loans waived.
Flowery protestEarlier, a section of farmers dumped bag full of flowers in front of the District Revenue Officer K. Tharpagaraj’s table alleging fleecing by commission agents, who procure flowers. They alleged that up to 15 per cent commission is charged by agents when they sell the jasmine at the Srirangam Flower Bazaar or at the Gandhi Market. Besides, every time farmers sell their produce up to half a kg of flowers is taken free by the agents claiming it to be traditional practice of offering ‘dharma poo.’
Jasmine growers, led by A.Nagarajan, executive president, Tamil Nadu Floriculturists Association, demanded that the district administration convene a tripartite meeting to find a solution to the problem. Based on a direction from Mr. Tharpagaraj, an Agriculture Department official said the meeting will be held on Monday.
A few farmers led by C. Masilamani, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), complained over continued refusal of private sugar mills to pay the State Advised Price for sugarcane.
R. Subramanian, deputy secretary, District Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, urged the State government to press the Centre to prevent the Karnataka’s move to build a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu.
R. Raja Chidambaram, State secretary, Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said old age pension to some of the beneficiaries in Manachanallur taluk has been stopped wrongfully during a recent verification process.