Farmers have put forth a suggestion to the district administration to ensure easy availability of organic manure, as many of them were switching over to organic method of farming. At the farmers’ grievances meet chaired by District Collector M. Pallavi Baldev here on Friday, various farmers raised the demand for organic yield-enhancers such as neem cakes, vermicompost, panchagavya and jeevamirtham which are mixtures of various natural components.
“There are few private companies who manufacture these manures but not in enough quantities and sometimes they also tend to sell it at exorbitant rates. Instead, NGOs or self-help-groups can be roped in to manufacture organic manure and the government can procure from them and offer to farmers,” said S. Pandiarajan, a farmer from Theni.
“I have been making jeevamirtham mixture using cow dung and jaggery for the crops in my farm. However, as it is a time-consuming process, we are unable to do it regularly. Many farmers have been moving to organic manures as they are more beneficial than fertilizers. They act as both growth-boosters and pest deterrents.”
“Currently, the government run fertilizer unit in Bodi has also been providing panchagavya mixture on behalf of horticulture department for mango farmers, which is appreciable. Such efforts should be made at block-levels. There are around 130 panchayats and six municipalities in the district, from which waste is segregated. The biodegradable waste from all of these local bodies can be vermicomposted. Either farmers’ organisations or SHGs can be given the task, so that they also find an income,” said S. Murugan.
The Collector sought detailed proposals from farmer organisations to carry forward the suggestion and said that steps will be taken to implement the idea.
