After water, farmers now seek crop relief

In Thanjavur, a group of farmers staged a novel protest by offering to sell their farming equipment. They claimed that they had no further need for them. Led by Kakkarai R Sukumaranm, state vice president, Confederation of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Associations, the farmers offered to sell their ploughs, crowbars, axes, sickles and spades. 

As part of the protest, the farmers tried to auction their equipment to the public. They demanded Rs 30,000 per acre as compensation from the government. They claimed that the delta farmers had suffered losses as the Kuruvai paddy crop failed for the fifth consecutive year. They added that the Samba crop also failed this year.

They demanded the government to declare Tamil Nadu as drought-hit state. They also wanted the government to waive the loans the farmers availed form cooperative and nationalised banks. The farmers also raised the issue of sugar mills withholding crores of rupees as arrears from sugarcane farmers. They added that they did not even have enough money to celebrate Deepavali. They requested the government to take action against the sugar mills and ensure that arrears are paid to farmers. The protesters also demanded that the constitution of Cauvery Management Board (CMB) without further delays.

Similarly, a protest was conducted at Tiruchy, where farmers carried withered crops to demonstrated the plight of farmers. They claimed that even cash crops had withered due to water scarcity and demanded the government to assess the situation and disburse compensation.