Appoint only farmers as members of the Agriculture Technology Management Committee (ATMA), an advisory forum for implementing various schemes in the district, urged farmers in unison at the monthly farmers’ grievance day meeting held at the Collectorate here on Friday.
Speaking at the meeting, farmer Pulavar Chellappa alleged that non-farmers and people who do not know anything about agriculture were appointed as members of ATMA committee. As many as 27 committee members (three each from nine panchayat unions) were appointed as per the recommendations of the Assistant Directors of the concerned panchayat unions.
Presiding over the meeting, Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan asked the farmers to give a list of non-farmer members, so that he could take corrective measures.
Another farmer raised a query of whether the government had fixed procurement price for honey, as bee-keeping is one of the major sources of livelihood in the district. The farmer was informed that his request was referred to the Khadi Commission in Thiruvananthapuram.
P. Neelakanda Pillai of Vadaseri alleged that farm lands were being converted into concrete jungles near Putheri flyover by a politician with the connivance of revenue officials. A. Udhayakumar, District Revenue Officer, who was present at the meeting, said he would inspect the spot and take necessary action.
A farmer hailing from Dharmapuram complained about red soil from a local pond being looted by a few persons after blocking the water channel affecting irrigation.
Joint Director of Department of Agriculture Ponkaatha Perumal, Executive Engineer of WRO of PWD Balasubramanian and Personal Assistant to Collector (Agriculture) Nizamuddin participated in the meeting.
