New pricing structure cheers Vellore ryots

Farmers here point out that they had conveyed this suggestion to the Prime Minister and the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa four years ago. According to Tamil Nadu farmers association sources, the idea was discussed at a seminar conducted by K Raja, a farmer, in his farm on June 25, 2016 at Kizhpalleri in Katpadi taluk. When DT Next contacted, Raja said he had suggested a scheme titled ‘Samacheer Vivasaya Payir Ammaippu’ (Uniform System of Agricultural Cropping).

Stating that his letters to both the then CM and Prime Minister failed to evoke any response, he said, “This has been a long pending demand since it is either government or middlemen who fix the prices that are totally unrealistic and do not reflect the actual expense involved in cultivation.” With online facilities available now, farmers could easily upload the crop and the acreage of cultivation, which would help officials ensure that there was no sudden price drop, he added.

Raja further explained that when farmers upload their all details about the crop they cultivate in their system or e-seva centres, it would help them to know the actual cost involved and ensure price stability and availability of farm products locally. Another benefit of the scheme also includes enhanced crop insurance compensation where an individual’s exact acreage will be insured as against the current practice of vast tracts of one crop.