Thanjavur: Farmers of Cauvery delta districts, have by and large welcomed the Rs 6,000 annual cash support for farmers having up to two hectares of land, announced in the Union government's interim budget presented in Parliament on Friday by Mr. Piyush Goyal.
“Small and marginal farmers constitute major numbers among farmers in the country. This announcement will help them,” said S. Rangsnathan, secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association.
He told DC over phone that 3 per cent interest waiver to farmers who repay loans promptly is a welcome feature. But in case of disasters like Gaja cyclone, entire interest should be waived and loans rescheduled, he urged.
In view of the fact that solar power usage has gone up by 10 times, government should try to bring all Deltas in the eastern side from Bengal to Tamil Nadu, under solar power and supply free solar power to agriculture, he suggested. These areas have warm sun shine for seven months in a year, Ranganathan said.
“There is no mention about crop insurance in the budget. At least in the main budget to be presented in June, an agriculture insurance corporation like LIC should be announced for implementing crop insurance instead of private insurance companies which are not doing well now. Prime Minister Fasali Yojana is a good scheme but the problem is in its implementation by private companies,” Ranganathan said.
V. Jeevakumar, a farmer from Budalur near Thanjavur said that Rs 6,000 per annum support to farmers should have been implemented even earlier. “Perhaps that would have prevented many farmer suicides. Now it appears that Central government has announced this, keeping Parliament elections in mind,” Jeevakumar said.
Sami Nadarajan, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to CPI(M) said there was no mention about National Agriculture Commission 's recommendation on price to be fixed for agriculture produce. “Mere saying that farmer’s income will double by 2022 does not hold water,” Nadarajan said.
“The budget is disappointing” said Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary, Thanjai Cauvery Farmers Protection committee.
The Rs 6,000 for two hectares per year is a replica of the scheme implemented by Chandrasekhar Rao, Chief minister of Telangana.
“But in Telangana Rs 8,000 is given for up to two acres. Centre has announced only Rs 6,000,that too for two hectares,” added Mr. Vimalanathan.
