Tirunelveli: “The Cauvery delta districts should be declared drought-hit districts, and relief should be provided to farmers,” said P.R. Pandian, chairman of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu.
A meeting of the guidance committee for the South Indian Natural Farming Conference was held in Tirunelveli. P.R. Pandian, chairman of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu, presided over the meeting. Many farmers from the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari took part and shared their views.
Speaking to reporters later, P.R. Pandian said, “The first conference of the South Indian Natural Farmers Federation was held in Coimbatore last year. Prime Minister Modi participated as the special guest and spoke. Following this, the second conference will be held at the Chennai Nandanam Trade Centre on January 22, 23, and 24. Invitations have been extended to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Tamil Nadu Governor Arlekar to participate in the conference.
Various issues, including promoting natural farming, introducing the technologies needed for it, creating global exports, and improving livestock rearing, will be discussed at the conference.
The demands raised by farmers at consultation meetings held in various parts of Tamil Nadu will be adopted as resolutions at this conference.
We welcome the ban imposed after the change of government in Tamil Nadu on transporting mineral resources to neighboring states. We have been urging the government to install solar-powered fences to prevent wild animals from entering farmlands.
Milk production can be increased by promoting livestock rearing. Therefore, the government should ensure that milk producers receive a fair price.
A separate space should be allocated in markets for selling the produce of organic farmers, and permission should be granted for direct sales. The government should also provide the necessary support for farmers to shift from agriculture dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to organic farming. The government should take action to allocate the required funds and carry out works to prevent sewage from mixing into the Thamirabarani River.
Furthermore, the banks of ponds damaged by flooding must be strengthened. Irrigation water distribution in areas including Srivaikuntam must be restored. Agricultural production is being affected because proper attention was not paid to water management in the past and due to climate change. There is also a risk of a decline in rice production. Because agriculture has not been given due importance, Tamil Nadu has come to depend on agricultural products produced in other states.
Considering that people prefer fine rice, the government has decided to pay an additional price for fine paddy. Although a separate budget was presented for the agriculture department during the previous administration, sufficient funds were not allocated for the schemes announced in it.
Free electricity for farmers should be provided quickly. Frequent transfers of senior officials in the agriculture and water resources departments will affect administration. It is not known whether such frequent transfers are being carried out with the Chief Minister’s knowledge.
The government should create an environment in which officials with departmental experience can continue working to ensure the effective implementation of irrigation projects. When the Chief Minister has taken a policy decision to run a government free of corruption and irregularities, this transfer will bring disrepute to the government.
The government must take serious action to protect Tamil Nadu’s rights in matters including the Cauvery water dispute and the Mullaperiyar dam issue. It should also pay due attention to implementing the orders of the Cauvery Management Authority.
Farmers are being affected because private companies operate with a commercial motive in the crop insurance scheme. We have been continuously urging the government to release the payment for the paddy that has been procured to the farmers.
Crop loans in Tamil Nadu should be completely waived. Due to the decrease in the southwest monsoon, agriculture in the Cauvery delta regions has been affected. Therefore, the affected areas should be declared drought-hit areas, and appropriate relief should be provided to the farmers,” said P.R. Pandian.
