Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Coconut farmers seek direct procurement

Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Novel agitation: Coconut farmers breaking coconuts to press a charter of demands in Salem on Saturday.—

SALEM: Coconut farmers in the district resorted to a novel agitation by breaking of coconuts near the Old Bus Stand on Saturday to highlight their plight.

The farmers under the banner of Salem district unit of Tamil Nadu Coconut Farmers Association wanted the Government procure the copra from them directly.

They said that all bottlenecks in the selling of copra should be removed. Identity cards must be issued.

The price of the copra should be fixed at Rs. 40 a kg. Coconut product in any form should not be imported.

Each tree, which was affected by pest and other problems, should be given a compensation of Rs. 2,000. The Government should implement an integrated pest resistant measure for coconut trees in the State.

As the yield also had increased from 80 coconuts a tree to 150, the Government also should take appropriate changes in its policies.

The farmers also urged the Government to sanction latest technological implements to pluck the coconuts.

Wherever coconut trees were growing in more numbers, there should be an integrated coconut centre.

Both State and Central Governments should widely publicise the concession that had been earmarked for farmers.

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