Mahapanchayat of farmers deferred

Farmers’ organisations in the region on Monday deferred the conduct of a planned Mahapanchayat envisaging involvement of representatives of organisations in Kerala and Karnataka to a future date due to apparent need for more ground work.

While the objective of the Mahapanchayat was to integrate all farmer organisations into a homogenous entity to be in a strong position to influence the Central government to device suitable policies in the wake of farmer suicides across the country, there were indications that representatives of farmer organisations of neighbouring States were keen on first resolving inter-State disputes.

Farmer organisations in the other two States would be persuaded to prioritise focus on national issues such as land acquisition bill, and falling price for agricultural produces before embarking on the Mahapanchayat, P.K. Deivasigamani, president of Turmeric Farmers’ Association of India said.

Projection of the collective strength of farmers was key to rectification of polices that have been causing the decline of agricultural sector, Mr. Deivasigamani said.

The meeting that, however, attracted representatives of farmers’ organisations from various parts of Tamil Nadu was addressed by former Erode MP and MDMK leader Ganeshamoorthy and other representatives including the president of Uzhavar Uzhaipalar Katchi K. Sellamuthu. The speakers emphasised on farmers putting up a united face to face injustices.

Farmers would have to first analyse the prevailing contradiction that reflects in decline in agricultural sector on one hand and glut in crop produce leading to drop in procurement price on the other.

The root cause for the sufferings was the policy of liberalisation, K.V. Ponnaiyan, president of Swadeshi Farmers' Association said.

There must be an agreement on common minimum program for fructification of the initiative to integrate farmers in other States to fructify.

Representatives of all farmers’ organisations must be initially be sensitised to socio-economic realities in India and at global level, before arriving at any action plan, Mr. Ponnaiyan said.