RAMANATHAPURAM: Despite being among the largest paddy production areas in the state, with over 1.39 lakh hectares under cultivation, farmers from Ramanathapuram alleged that the district has not received any benefits like the delta region.
With the state Budget set to be tabled, farmers from Ramanathapuram listed out demands which they hoped would be addressed this year.
Though known for water scarcity issues, Ramanathapuram remains among the largest paddy-producing areas in the state, with paddy output of over 4 lakh metric tonnes per year.
The district is also known for chilli cultivation, especially the Ramanathapuram mundu chilly which received a GI tag last year.
Despite being an agricultural hotbed, farmers alleged that many of their issues remain unaddressed by the government.
MSK Bakkianathan, president of the TN Vaigai Irrigation Farmers Association from Ramanathapuram said, "Despite being one of the major paddy cultivators, the paddy from Ramanathapuram has to be taken to the hulling centre in Sivagangai district, which has less paddy cultivation areas. A government hulling centre has to be established in the district. Also, the district requires accredited cold storage facilities, as farmers are currently forced to depend on private storage facilities to store paddy and chilli crops. A state-owned firm for crop insurance registration should be established as private insurance firms are not properly distributing the crop insurance compensation in case of damages."
He also added that the state government could also provide compensation for crop damages sooner, as farmers in delta areas receive the same very quickly when compared to farmers in Ramanathapuram, who are forced to wait for nearly a year.
M Raman, a chilli farmer cum exporter from Korampallam stated that considerably, Ramanathapuram’s chilli has higher demand in both domestic and international markets.
“Special schemes could be initiated to promote organic chilli cultivation in the district. Storage facilities can be established in major chilli cultivation areas and processing centres can be set up to boost exports,” he said.
With irrigation being a major concern, many farmers urged the government to allot funds from the Municipal Administration department to regularly maintain the tanks. Last year, the tanks were maintained, which is why they could store large quantities of water after the rains and addressed the irrigation woes of the farmers, they said.
M Gavaskar, a farmer and organiser of the RS Mangalam and Thiruvadanai Farmers Association said that the Cauvery Vaigai Gundar project that remains idle could be initiated, which could solve the water woes in the district.
He also requested that like the Telangana state government, which provides Rs 5,000 per acre to farmers as financial assistance for farmers, Tamil Nadu can also start a scheme to help the farmers.