A section of farmers who participated in the Agriculturists Grievances Day meeting held here on Friday expressed their displeasure over what they called “meagre rise” in the purchase price for paddy fixed by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices of the Centre. They launched a novel protest by consuming some low-cost corns.
K. Sukumaran, district president of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said that the increase by just Rs. 50 a quintal for paddy had shocked the paddy growers. He said that farmers would realise just Rs. 1,410 which would be quite inadequate to meet their cultivation costs. He wanted a minimum of Rs. 2,500 to be fixed a quintal.
V.Jeevakumar, a farmer, wanted the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation to ensure uninterrupted power supply for agricultural pump sets so as to achieve the goals of the special ‘kuruvai’ package.
N.Subbaiyan, District Collector, said a target of 43,000 hectares had been fixed for “kuruvai” package in the district of which 10,520 hectares had been covered so far.
