Farmers representatives of Tiruchi district have urged the State government to waiver the cooperative farm loans of small and marginal farmers fully and 50% of the loans of big farmers.

In a joint representation submitted to the District Collector Pratik Tayal at the monthly farmers grievances meeting here on Friday, leaders of various farmers organisations said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay should fulfil his election promise.

Speaking at the meeting, R. Raja Chidambaram, State secretary, Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said the demand reflected the unanimous view of all farmers’ organisations. P. Ayyakannu, president, Desiya Thennidiya Nadigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, said the government should waive the cooperative loans of all farmers fully, without restricting it ₹75,000.

P. Viswanathan, president, Tamizhaga Eri Mattrum Attru Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam, pointed out that Maharashtra had waived the crop loans fully and the Tamil Nadu government should do so.

Mekedatu issue

Welcoming the resolution adopted in the Assembly on Friday against the construction of a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu, R. Subramanian, deputy secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, said the Chief Minister should call on the Prime Minister and impress upon him the need to prevent Karnataka from going ahead with its plan.

He called for the release of adequate water in all the 17 irrigation canals between the Mettur and Kallanai, to meet the requirements of standing cash crops.

Free power

Mr.Raja Chidambaram expressed concern that many farmers, who had registered their names under the ordinary seniority, were waiting for years together to get farm power connections. “Over 11,139 farmers who had registered after April 1, 2013 were yet to get the connections in Tiruchi Metro Circle. Another 3,066 farmers, who had registered earlier, were still awaiting connections. A similar situation prevails across the state,” Mr. Raja Chidambaram said and called for steps to clear the backlog.

Milk price

N. Ganesan, Joint Secretary, Tamil Nadu Milk Producers’ Welfare Association, called upon the Collector to set right the maladministration in the Tiruchi District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Aavin). He called upon the government to increase the procurement and selling price of milk as several members of the milk cooperative societies were weaned away by private dairies offering a much higher price than what was offered by Aavin. “Private diaries offer up to ₹45 a litre while dairy farmers hardly get ₹35 a litre, given the stringent SNF (solids-non-fat) content norms,” Mr. Ganesan said and urged the authorities to save Aavin from ruin.