Farmers want ‘tall-cross-dwarf’ variety of coconut saplings at subsidised rate

Farmers demand reduced coconut sapling prices, crop insurance compensation, and livestock insurance for farming sustainability in Thoothukudi.

During the farmers’ grievance redress meeting held here on Thursday, farmers demanded reduction in price of tall-cross-dwarf (nettai-kuttai) coconut variety saplings which were being sold to them. 

Also, they asked the officials to ensure that all the farmers who were earmarked to receive compensation amount as per the crop insurance scheme have received the amount.  

“Since many who were earmarked eligible for the insurance amount have received no information from the officials and it has been more than two months since we were selected,” they added.  

Further, they said, farmers who have lost their crops to the natural calamities, and for them to restart farming on the lands, they have to possess at least a lit bit of money to manage the other farming-related expenses.  

Noting down the methods employed to calculate the damaged crops, farmers said, while calculating the farms for insurance amount, the total yield lost should be taken into account. 

As many livestock of farmers were dying due to unknown diseases, the livestock should also be insured by calculating the total number of livestock in the district, they said.  

When some cattle were lost to a disease, the affected farmer would lose one part of his economic support, they noted.