Expressing shock and anguish, farmers cutting across affiliations on Thursday said the reported move to downgrade the National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) in Tiruchi would be a big blow to banana cultivation in the State, which was one of the highest producers of the crop in the country.
The issue dominated the agricultural grievances day meeting here.
Ayilai Siva Suriyan, district secretary, Tamilaga Vyvasayigal Sangam, said the Centre’s move raised serious concern among the farmers of Tiruchi and neighbouring districts. Tamil Nadu was one of the premier States in banana cultivation and farmers and banana cultivators were dependent on the NRCB for advice. Hence, shifting or downgrading the NRCB was nothing but injustice to them.
Mr. Suriyan added that there was also a move to downgrade two other Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes, the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) in Chennai and the Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI) in Coimbatore. The move was yet another example of the Centre’s discriminative approach towards farmers of the State.
Puliyur Nagarajan, president, State farmers’ wing of Tamil Maanila Congress, said the Centre’s move would not only result in substantial reduction in funds, but also deprive the focus of research on specified areas of interest. The State government should take up the issue with the Centre and demand its withdrawal. Otherwise, farmers would be forced to launch a series of agitations.
Replying to questions, Collector K. Rajamani said there had been no move to shift NRCB from Tiruchi. He had received inputs that it was aimed at “administrative restructuring”. However, the concern of the farmers would be brought to the notice of the State government and the Central departments.
P. Ayyakannu, Desiya Thenninthiya Nathigal Inaippu Sangam, said two months had passed since the opening of Mettur dam. But water had not reached the tail-end areas of most of irrigation channels including Vadakarai vaickal in the district. Though the issue was brought to the notice of officials, there was no action.
R. Subramanian, deputy secretary of the Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said farmers in the tail-end areas of Kattalai High Level Canal, who had raised paddy crop, were suffering for want of water. The supply was not sufficient to irrigate the paddy fields. Similar was the situation in paddy fields depending on Kattalai Canal from Mayanur to Thayanur.
Hence, the State government should allocate funds for desilting of all canals in Tiruchi and Karur districts to prevent a similar situation next year, he added.
