Shock, grief grip delta, farmers want govt to continue Jayaraman’s mission

Several leading agriculturists while pointing out that Jayaraman preserved and propagated 187 and odd traditional paddy varieties demanded the state government to take necessary steps to continue his mission.

PR Pandian, president of the coordination committee of the Tamilnadu All Farmers’ Associations, said that the state government should convert the annual ‘Nel Tiruvizha’ (Paddy festival) into a movement. He added that, “The government should also set up an organic farming research centre in the delta region and name it after ‘Nel’ Jayaraman.”

Puliyur Nagarajan, farmers wing president of TMC, pointed out that Jayaraman was instrumental in the propagation of the traditional paddy varieties across the state.

Meanwhile, Swamimalai S Vimalnathan said Jayaraman, who came from a humble family, toiled to preserve the culture and nature of the ‘Marudam’, one of the five landscapes, referred in Sangam literature. “Jayaraman used to work hard to organise the annual ‘Nel Tiruvizha’ (paddy festival) and serve organic food to thousands of farmers who come to the event,” he added. The delta farmers urged the state government to distribute inputs at subsidised price to farmers cultivating traditional varieties as a mark of paying respect to ‘Nel’ Jayaraman.