Debate on high traces of urea in dairy products

The DMK MLA also urged the state to focus more on organic farming comprising small grains like millet, corn, black gram and horse gram as it would benefit both farmers and the consumers.

The MLA also raised issues related to cooperatives department banks not distributing farm and jewel loans. To this, Cooperative Minister Sellur K Raju objected and said that the state government in the past one year has distributed Rs 8500 crores as farm loans after allocating Rs 10,000 crore. For the current fiscal the state has earmarked Rs 11,000 crore and will achieve the target.

The Minister also asked the DMK MLA to clarify the cases in which the farmers were rejected loans. The Minister also noted that those who had defaulted the loans earlier will not be eligible to avail loans and denied that there was shortage of urea and manure inthe state.

Food Minister R Kamaraj refuted the speech of DMK MLA and said that the state has increased the acreage of small grains and was promoting organic farming through self help groups. The Minister also noted that TN is a number one state in the country bagging the centre’s award when it comes to agricultural production both in terms of quality andquantity.

Meanwhile the CM also announced that the state government would set up 12,525 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in village panchayats for elderly citizens. Making a Statement Under Rule 110, he said these SHGs would be extended Rs 15,000 each, besides a resource fund of Rs 18.79 crore. He also fixed Rs 14,000 crore as the credit assistance target for SHGs in the state.

The CM also said that the AIADMK government will continue to provide adequate farms loans and adequate urea for the farmers.