Farmers seek micro level enumeration of crop loss

In a detailed presentation to Richard E Daniel, chairman, Cyclone Gaja assessment team, joint secretary, union ministry of home affairsthe farmers’ association termed Gaja as the most severe disaster in terms of damage to farmers.

“We pray to the Central team and to the state government for a fair micro-level assessment in all the cyclone-affected villages as the damage is extensive spread over six districts. This time not only the crops the damage is more to the public property particularly farmers in Delta,” Arupathy P Kalyanam, general secretary, Federation of Farmers Associations, Cauvery Delta Districts said in the presentation.

The extensive precautionary measure of the state has saved lives, but the damage to the crops, greenery and dwellings has pushed the region back to 25 years. The relief measures, input subsidy as assistance for more than 33 per cent affected paddy, sugarcane, horticulture, floriculture crops, coconut, mango, cashew and all other perennial crops, is very minimal and this meagre assistance will not help farmers to revive from the catastrophic storm, the letter read.

“Perennial tree crops such as coconut, mango, cashew, tamarind and wood value trees like teak are badly hit and the announcement by the state to provide compensation after calculating the hectares will affect the farmers. Particularly farmers with small land parcels and those with partial damage will lose heavily,” explained S Sivasuriyan, Tiruchy district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangham.

Even the damage to crop in Tiruchy is not enumerated in detail and there is a need for micro level enumeration covering all districts hit by Gaja, he said.

The state disaster relief fund allocation to all states during 2015-2020, for five years is Rs 61,220 crore. For TNthe share works to about Rs 3,751 crore for five years and this again is eyewash, Kalyanam charged.

The farmers also demanded that the state and the Centre should follow the compensation guidelines fixed for the Eight lane Chennai-Salem National Highway project in which Rs 50,000 was fixed for a coconut tree.