Members of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, a non-political farmers' association, on Thursday dumped shallots outside the District Collectorate in Tiruppur as part of a demonstration condemning the falling prices.
The members also took out a mock funeral for the vegetable with an oppari (lament for the dead) performance.
“We did this because there is no use of these shallots for the farmers,” said N.S.P. Vetri, working president of the association. While it costs the farmer around ₹ 40 to cultivate one kg of shallot, it is being sold in the markets for a price of ₹ 4 to ₹ 7 per kg, he claimed. Shallot farmers are facing heavy losses due to this price fall, which follows the damage of crops last year due to heavy rains in Tiruppur district, Mr. Vetri told mediapersons.
A.K. Shanmugam, State president of Thamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, urged the Central and State governments to take steps for the export of shallots to foreign countries to ensure proper remuneration for the farmers.
