In a first, TN starts holding zonal level agri panel meetings

VELLORE: In a first of its kind, the state government is presently conducting zonal level agricultural committee meetings to seek views of farmers on their needs for increasing yield and income, sources revealed.

The north east zonal committee meeting held in Cuddalore for 10 districts, including integrated Vellore was helmed by state agriculture director Dr Annadurai, who took notes of all that transpired, sources said.

“The meeting helped us to ventilate our grievances on various farm related issues,” said Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam state general secretary S Udayakumar. Two farmers/farmer representatives from each district were invited for the meeting.

“This was a surprise for us as this is the first time we have been invited for such a meet,” said Elumalai from Ranipet district.

Those present include Agriculture Department JDs, collector’s PA (Agri), TNEB and senior officials from the agricultural marketing, agricultural engineering, horticulture and scientists from various KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras).

While Udayakumar highlighted the plight of farmers due to animal attacks on farmers and farms and the recent issue of a farmer being arrested for having an electronic siren, others highlighted the need to treat the entire state as one agriculture unit instead of separating it into Delta and non-Delta regions.

The Sangam’s youth wing state president R Subash called for permanent DPCs, buildings for DPCs in Ranipet district, similar to their Delta counterparts. The need for drying yards, increased subsidy allotment for use of agricultural implements were also highlighted.

“This could be an exercise to ready the agriculture budget for the next year,” Subash said and added “we also requested that the government ask the Forest Department to provide NOCs for official solar fencing schemes expeditiously as presently it took more than two months for the permit.”

Shifting unutilised seed processing centre from Avarakarai near Ranipet to Wallajah was also mooted as also the need to fill up all vacant agriculture department posts, sources revealed.