CHENNAI: The AITUC-affiliated Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association has appealed to Chief Minister MK Stalin to stop the implementation of the newly launched Uzhavar Aluvalar Thodarbu 2.0 scheme, warning that it would adversely impact agricultural growth and create confusion among farmers.

In a statement on Saturday, general secretary BS Masilamani said the State has justified the new model by citing the high workload of existing field officers, who each handle an average of 6 villages.

Under the revised system, officials from agriculture, horticulture, hill crops, agricultural engineering and agricultural marketing departments will be jointly assigned to fewer villages to improve regular interaction with farmers.

He said the arrangement may look efficient on paper, but will falter in practice. Officers are trained and experienced only in their respective fields and cannot be expected to advise farmers on all crops and technologies. This would affect productivity and restrict farmers’ access to proper technical knowledge, he said.

Masilamani noted that field officers are already burdened with clerical tasks, forcing farmers to depend on private retailers for guidance. Instead of restructuring, the government should fill long-pending vacancies and appoint more field officers to ensure timely services, he said.

He also cautioned that the move would weaken the standalone horticulture department, which contributes significantly to production value and exports despite its smaller cultivation footprint. Undermining its role would be a setback at a time when horticulture is critical to future food and income security.

Calling the scheme unnecessary and harmful, he urged the Chief Minister to revisit the plan and take steps that genuinely strengthen agricultural support systems in the State.