Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister R. Vinoth has said the suggestions and demands of farmers would be considered and included in the forthcoming Budget.

Addressing a regional level pre-Agriculture Budget consultative meeting with farmers in Thanjavur on Friday, Mr. Vinoth said the government was initiating steps to usher in an “agriculture revolution” in the State. Increasing the use of machines in cultivation, adoption/implementation of new technologies, effective use of water for irrigation, organic farming, support for food processing, value-added products and their export, and adoption of renewable energy in agriculture were some of the initiatives being considered by the government.

“Already the government was implementing the kuruvai special package scheme at an outlay of ₹134.83 crore and crop loans worth ₹6,000 crore were waived benefiting 14.43 lakh farmers. Further, ₹10 crore had been spent for desilting of C and D Category channels in the delta districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchi, Ariyalur, and Cuddalore districts, for a distance of 2,499 km to ensure smooth flow of surface water for irrigation up to tail-end areas,” he added.

Protected zone

Later, during the meeting, farmers from the delta and neighbouring districts urged the government to withdraw the previous DMK government’s decision to set up industrial parks in the delta region, which had been declared a protected agricultural zone during the AIADMK regime in the recent past.

Exhorting the present government to adopt a firm stand on the issue of Cauvery river water sharing and pursue legal recourse, they pleaded for sanctioning of farm power connections sans procedural delays.

Pointing out that the water table had depleted at several places along the Grand Anicut Canal system due to cement concreting of the canal bed, farmers suggested sinking of aquifers pipes at a distance of every 300 feet to recharge groundwater and boost the level to 20 to 40 feet from the present level of 300 to 400 feet.

Price for paddy

Meanwhile, a section of farmers’ groups demanded that the government fulfil its election promise of ₹3,500 per quintal as the purchase price for paddy and ₹4,500 per tonne for sugarcane. They demanded that the crop loans be waived for all farmers.

Minorities Welfare Minister A.M. Shahjahan of Indian Union Muslim League, MLAs from delta districts, and officials participated in the meeting.