Thanjavur Farmer Bodies Find Nothing To Cheer About TN Agri Budget
Coconut farmers from the Pattukottai area also expressed disappointment as the price demanded by them was not announced for dehusked and full coconuts
Thanjavur: Farmers of Thanjavur district have expressed disappointment over the agriculture budget presented by agriculture minister R. Vinoth in the Assembly on Thursday.
Swamimalai K. Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, said the budget was a “dry and disappointing one for farmers”.
A revised budget should be submitted, he urged.
He said there was no announcement about procurement prices as demanded by farmers, i.e., Rs. 3,500 per quintal of paddy and Rs. 4,500 per tonne of sugarcane.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay promised this in his election campaign, Vimalanathan recalled.
Other promises not kept include introducing coconut oil instead of palm oil in ration shops and provision of 20 lakh power connections to agriculture pump-sets.
“With respect to loan waiver, confusion continues and promise was one thing and announcement was another,” Vimalanathan said.
He also pointed out that the Maharashtra government had announced a loan waiver of Rs. 36,000 crore recently.
Vimalanathan said agitations will be held by farmers throughout the state soon, supporting these demands as they have not been met in the budget.
However, Vimalanathan welcomed the announcement of opening a centre for giving diplomas in natural farming in the name of Nammalvar, who championed the cause of organic farming, at Kumbakonam.
V. Jeevakumar of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam from Budalur, said farmers were eagerly awaiting waiver of all co-operative loans but the government has not announced it in the budget.
“There is no point in announcing a board for income improvement for farmers when farmers are without any income,” Jeevakumar criticised.
Coconut farmers from the Pattukottai area also expressed disappointment as the price demanded by them was not announced for dehusked and full coconuts.
“We wanted a board for coconut development at Thanjavur. But it has not been announced,” said the coconut farmers.
But, TVK members and farmers of the party welcomed the budget and distributed sweets, stating that it was a farmer-friendly budget.
They also burst crackers at Thanjavur.
