Latest news with #TamilNaduFarmers'ProtectionAssociation
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Farmers' associations scale up magnitude of impending ‘Organic Seeds and Food Festival' in Tiruppur, in its second edition
Seeking to improve on the maiden organic seeds festival conducted last year at Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association (TNFPA) and the Tamil Nadu Nature Farmers Federation (TNNFF) have reached out to over 60 schools for participation in the various awareness competitions and activities planned for the Kongu Region Seeds and Food Festival at Tiruppur later this month. Last time, there were about 1,000 students from 12 schools. This time around, the footfall will be many times more as the organic seeds and food festival have been scheduled for two days on July 26 and 27 at the DRG Marriage Hall along Palladam Road, encompassing painting and elocution competitions and debate on nature farming, and the support systems available under government schemes to propagate organic farming, according to the organisers. Last year, the one-day event served the purpose of sensitising the upcoming generation to organic cultivation of vegetables and the significance of soil-suitability for specific vegetables. This time, a display of ancient farm implements and farming practices will provide a peek into healthy living for several thousands of school students, who really matter for propagating organic sustainable farming in the long run, Ainthunai Velusamy, State coordinator of TNFPA and TNNFF said. At least 10 hitherto lesser known edible banana varieties raised in a field by a nature farmer Senthilkumar, near Kanjikovil in Erode district, will be displayed, among several other crop varieties, Mr. Velusamy said. A debate on 'Denied, hidden and forgotten traditions' and inherent politics will involve front-ranking nature farmers as speakers. Votaries of organic farming will also deliberate on the 'political euphemism' behind replacement of the term 'genetic modification' with 'gene editing' by policy-makers, and drive home the importance of fulfilling the mandatory requirements of the substantial process of testing before introducing any genetically-manipulated seed variety, Mr. Velusamy emphasised. Citing the instance of BT Cotton, he said the impact of the crop on entire food chain is seldom discussed. The leftover cottonseed cake after extraction of the milk is used as feed for livestock and cattle. The milk yield from the animals again enters into the human food system. The school managements seem to be already aware of the importance of organic farming, Mr. Velusamy said, observing that the enthusiasm from the invited schools to be a part of the nature-friendly initiative generates hope for promotion of sustainable organic agriculture among the upcoming generation. 'We are also reaching out to government schools and are keen on involving the students from the rural parts in the event,' he said.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- The Hindu
Private quarry at Kodangipalayam in Tiruppur district fined ₹10 crore for excessive mining
The Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruppur, has imposed a fine of ₹10 crore on a private quarry based on detection of excessive mining. In response to representations made by the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association, the taluk-level Task Force of Palladam had found that the quarry operated by Jegadeeswari Ganesan in plots 54, 55 and 63 of Kodangipalayam village, Palladam taluk, Tiruppur district, had continued mining activities despite expiry of permit, and had carried out blasting several times in the last two years using illegal explosives. A team of officials carried out an inspection four months ago, and confirmed illegal extraction and sale of over 3 lakh cubic meters of ordinary stones and gravel. Based on the confirmation of the Minerals Department that there were violations under Section 36-A of Tamil Nadu Minor Minerals Concession Rules 1959 and the Government Order 170 of Industries Department, the Palladam Taluk authorities recommended the extent of fine to be imposed on the quarry. In view of this development, the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association called off its planned protest on Monday in front of the office of Revenue Divisional Officer. The authorities ought to have taken stringent action for use of illegal explosives, R. Satishkumar, secretary, Legal Awareness Wing of the association, said, adding that the government officials who were complicit in the mineral theft should also be punished. Earlier this year, the High Court had imposed fine upwards of ₹80 crore on another quarry in Kodangipalayam, for unauthorised extraction of minerals. The proprietor of SVA Ezhil Blue Metal quarry Ramakrishnan was fined by the High Court during May for having illegally mined 39,405 cubic metres of topsoil and weathered rock, 25 times the permitted limit of 1,575 cubic metres.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers plan large-scale participation in hunger strike on July 10 in Chennai opposing system of crop loans based on CIBIL report
Farmer organisations in Western region are apparently mobilising large-scale participation in the the hunger protest by like-minded entities on July 10 in Chennai opposing the insistence on CIBIL report by the Cooperatives Department for sanction of fresh loans for Kisan Credit Card holders. According to the leaders of the farmers' organisations, 80 per cent of the farmers are unable to secure crop loans and financial assistance for livestock rearing from cooperative societies due to the insistence on CIBIL report. According to Eesan Murugasamy, founder, Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association, the circular issued by the Cooperative Department on May 26 stating that the CIBIL report would be checked for farmers seeking crop loans from cooperative societies had to be withdrawn. Farmers across Tamil Nadu are facing severe difficulty in getting crop loans from cooperative societies, also because of the pre-condition that they must not have availed themselves of loans earlier from nationalised banks. The cost of cultivation being higher in Tamil Nadu when compared to other States, the farmers are left with no option but to get loans from the Cooperative banks as well as nationalised banks to cover the entire expenses. Due to the unfavourable conditions, farmers who had taken loans in the past have not been able to repay the dues in time. The inability to repay education loans and crop loans had inevitably lowered their CIBIL score. The farmers have conveyed to the government that they decided to sustain their protests beyond July 10 if a solution was not found.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Farmers call for coordinated action by Central and State governments for mitigation of human-wildlife conflict
Conveying their concern over the persistence of wildlife-human conflict, farmers' associations in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts have urged the Central and State governments to get their acts together to mitigate the problem. While the Union government must launch a centralised helpline, the State government has to equip the forest personnel with walkie-talkies and other paraphernalia to address the issue, the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association has emphasised. Citing the recurring instances of human deaths due to attack by elephants in recent months, Eesan Murugasamy, Founder, Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association, said the victims mainly constitute farmers and agricultural workers. The helpline will enable farmers to alert the Forest Department about presence of wild animals outside forest boundaries without loss of time, paving way for prompt action before damage is caused to humans and agricultural crops, Mr. Murugasamy said. Likewise, forest personnel at the field level must be equipped with wireless walkie-talkies for ease of communication with superior officers while patrolling in the forest areas. Farmers in Udumalpet in Tiruppur district and Mettupalayam-Karamadai belt of Coimbatore district who have been facing substantial losses due to damages caused to agricultural and horticultural crops by wild animals called for a decisive categorisation of wild pigs that venture out of the forest areas and destroy crops, and herds that move deep into human habitation and stays put in thickets, in management of human-wildlife conflict. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, it is learnt, has initiated action for establishment of a Centre of Excellence for human-wildlife conflict management, to find amicable solutions through advanced technologies, including AI, for management of human-wildlife conflicts. Based on interactions with the stakeholders, the ministry has decided to develop appropriate strategies for plausible actions to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. An advisory to deal with human wildlife conflict issued by the ministry during 2021 recommends coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hotspots, adherence to standard operating procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and district level committees to review the quantum of ex-gratia relief, issuing guidance and instructions for expedited payments, and provision of adequate funds for ex-gratia relief to be paid to the affected persons in the case of death and injury. Species-specific guidelines were issued during 2023 for mitigation of conflicts arising from various wild animals: elephant, gaur, leopard, snake, crocodile, Rhesus Macaque, wild pig, bear, blue bull and blackbuck.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Farmers seek cancellation of CIBIL requirement for granting loans
Representatives of Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association sought the cancellation of a recent circular on reviewing applicants' CIBIL credit report for loans issued by the State Registrar of Cooperative Societies and submitted a petition to Collector M.S. Sangeetha here on Monday. The Petitioners said that the circular mandated that all loans, including crop loans disbursed through cooperative societies under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, should be granted only after reviewing the applicants' CIBIL credit report. C. Nethaji of the farmers' association argued that the move could severely impact small and marginal farmers who already face restricted access to institutional credit. He pointed out, 'While the Tamil Nadu government calculates paddy cultivation costs at ₹76,000 per acre, only ₹36,000 is currently offered as crop loans, pushing farmers to seek loans from traders and middlemen.' He contended that including cooperative society loans in the CIBIL database would disqualify many farmers from accessing future credit from nationalised banks. Highlighting Reserve Bank of India's 2017 KCC guidelines, the farmers noted that no provision mandated the use of CIBIL scores to determine eligibility. Citing a similar stance taken by the Maharashtra Chief Minister, who warned against rejecting farm loans based on credit scores, the petitioners urged the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to revoke the circular in the interest of farmers. Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan opposing the circular asked why a cooperative society loan for farmers should be based on CIBIL, which was a private entity. 'These are moves targeted at the small and marginal farmers whose farming activities are mostly dependent on the miniscule loans from the banks,' he added.
