The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Farmers demand extension of insurance cover, subsidy for groundnut cultivation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 24, 2011
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Farmers demand extension of insurance cover, subsidy for groundnut cultivation

Staff Reporter

— Photo:B.Velankanni Raj

No holds barred: Collector T.Munusamy speaking at the farmers' grievances day meeting at the Collectorate in Nagapattinam on Thursday, O.S.Manian, second from right, M.P, is in the picture.

NAGAPAPTTINAM: Adequate water supply to tail-end channels, increasing the number of agricultural equipment, and extension of subsidy and insurance cover for groundnut cultivation were among the demands made by farmers at the monthly grievances meet here on Thursday.

Over 3,000 acres of land was under groundnut cultivation, along the coastal villages of Pradhanaramapuram, Vizhundhumaavadi and Kameshwaram.

Groundnut being a short-term cash crop, its cultivation which incurs an expenditure of Rs.20,000 per acre, warrants support in the form of subsidy and insurance cover.

While Thalainayar and Vedaranyam farmers were provided with crop insurance cover for groundnut cultivation, the same was not extended to Keezhayur block, said Sivashanmugam, from Keezhayur.

Small and marginal farmers who practice ground nut cultivation have captive ponds to ensure good cultivation, but government should ensure adequate supply of quality seeds to prevent farmers from buying low quality seeds.

Voicing concerns over distribution of water, Kaveri Danapalan of Cauvery Farmers Protection Association said that last year inter-departmental coordination ensured judicious distribution of water.

Irrespective of the date of water release, whenever it was conveyed to the administration about water not reaching a specific channel, PWD conducted field visits to rectify the problem, he added. Indiscriminate sand mining had also affected the flow of water in rivers, Mr.Danapalan said.

Farmers also demanded that nationalised banks be directed to grant agricultural loans and must desist from the practice of projecting jewellery loans as agricultural loans.

Tractors

Adequate number of transplanters, harvesters, tractors and other equipment must be maintained by the department of agricultural engineering at firqa-level to help farmers in hiring them.

In Nagapattinam agricultural engineering campus is far away from cultivable areas, and farmers have to cover a long distance to bring the equipment to their land.

This adds to their diesel expenditure. Relocation of machinery to a centralised place would benefit farmers, Mr.Danapalan said.

An appeal was made to fill up the vacancies of drivers to utilise the four tractors that are kept unused at the Mayiladuthurai agricultural engineering division.

The laser land leveller with the department is also lying idle for want of 60 HP tractor. Call for a revival of the Kangalanchery agricultural depot was also made. Collector T.Munusamy presided.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu