Participants at the monthly farmers’ grievances day meeting held here on Friday urged the district administration to inspect the food articles sold in villages on a regular basis to ensure the health and hygiene of the rural populace.
V.Dhanapalan, general secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said that tea sold in interior villages was most often adulterated, and authorities must conduct surprise raids in the interior villages where people are not aware of the hazards of adulteration. S.Palanisamy, District Collector, who presided over the meeting, directed the officials to initiate action in this regard.
A section of farmers also wanted higher minimum support price for paddy and expressed concern over the meagre hike of Rs. 50 a quintal announced by the Centre. Arupathi Kalyanam, general secretary, Federation of Farmers’ Associations, suggested that farmers, who had raised paddy during the early-kuruvai season, should also be brought under the ‘kuruvai’ package.
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The Collector said that an area of 28,777 hectares would be brought under ‘kuruvai’ season this year. Nurseries have been planted on 27,272 hectares, including the 20,472 hectares covered under the ‘System of Rice Intensification’.
A.Benjamin Prabu, District Revenue Officer, G.Rajendra Prasad, Regional Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and K.Mayilvahanan, Joint Director of Agriculture, were present.