Farmers disappointed over delay in procurement of pulses

Farmers in Thoothukudi district express disappointment over delayed procurement of pulses, emphasizing the need for timely action.

Farmers from Kovilpatti, Ettayapuram and Vilathikulam regions have expressed their disappointment over delay in procurement of pulses such as black gram and green gram. They emphasised the need for timely procurement of their produce - immediately after the harvest.

The northern parts of Thoothukudi district relies on rainfed agriculture. Farmers in this region riase maize, black gram, green gram, chillies, shallots, cotton and sunflower. These farmers primarily depend on the northeast monsoon for their produce, where black gram and green gram are harvested in 75 to 85 days, while maize, sunflower, coriander, shallots and other millets are harvested in three months.

This year most of the black gram and green gram cultivation was completed by the first week of January with few farmers finishing it by the second week. However, after almost three months, procurement centres are going to start the procurement process in May, with the prices fixed by the government. This tardy process has dismayed the farmers from the region.

John Kennady from Muthalapuram said that currently no farmers are left with their produce as it has been more than three months now, and the grains stored at home have started to be affected by pests. “I sold the black gram harvested from our land to the local traders, because we cannot even spray pesticide after the cultivation. Moreover the bugs infesting the grains would also spread throughout our house, so to prevent that, I sold it,” he said.

A.Varadharajan, president of Karisal Bhoomi Farmer’s Association, said that the farmers sold green gram for  ₹6,200 per quintal and black gram for ₹5,500 immediately after the harvest period. However, the government has set the price at ₹7,400 for black gram and ₹8,600 for green gram, which is relatively higher than the price offered by local traders. 

But, due to the delay, the farmers were unable to store their produce for long  and were forced to sell to the traders to at least save the harvested crops, which have been protected from natural and synthetic obstacles, he said.

The farmers want the government to initiate timely procurement to save their produce and benefit the farming community.