Latest news with #TamilNaduFarmersAssociation
New Indian Express
12-08-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
CM Stalin announces Rs 6.5 crore butter production centre in TN's Uthukuli to boost dairy farmers' income
TIRUPPUR: Farmers expressed joy after Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that the state government will set up a butter production centre in Uthukuli of Tiruppur district. Stalin, during a welfare assistance distribution event in Udumalaipet on Monday, announced various upcoming development projects for Tiruppur district. This included a new butter production centre for Rs 6.5 crore in Uthukuli, which has been a long-pending demand of local farmers. S Chinnasamy, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association (CPI), said, "Uthukuli is famous for dairy products such as butter, ghee, curd and buttermilk. Traditionally, this industry has been operating since many generations. However, the number of companies involved in butter and ghee production is decreasing by the day. There are many dairy farmers in Uthukuli who rely on the butter and ghee industry, and are involved in milk production. We had been requesting the state government to take appropriate steps to protect this industry, and a part of this demand was to establish a butter production centre in Uthukuli." "We welcome the announcement made by the chief minister. This centre will definitely serve as a boost for the farmers, as it will likely purchase milk from the farmers. This will also ensure that private companies provide fair prices to farmers," he added. R Kumar, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association (AIKS), said, "The announcement of a butter production centre in Uthukuli is a welcome one. However, it is unclear as to how this will be implemented, and if Aavin administration will manage it." S Paramasivam, district treasurer of Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Association, said, "Private companies have been dominating butter and ghee production in the state. We believe the new unit will encourage butter production through Aavin. But for farmers to reap the benefits of this centre, the government should increase milk procurement through Aavin." "Tamil Nadu produces 1.35 crore litres of milk daily, of which Aavin handles only 30-35 lakh litres of milk," he added. A senior official from Aavin (Tiruppur) said, "We are yet to receive the scheme details and procedural details. Until then, we cannot comment on the announcement."
New Indian Express
11-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karuvelam blocks water to lakes in Tiruchy, farmers upset
TIRUCHY: More than 25 waterbodies, including the Panjappur, Kothamangalam, and Prattiyur lakes within city limits, and in Thiruverumbur taluk, that serve as irrigation source for farm lands are blocked by seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) trees and water hyacinth. With desilting of C and D channels currently underway, farmers have urged the state government to to clean these lakes on priority before the onset of monsoon. The Uyyakondan canal which branches off from the Cauvery river near Pettaivaithalai irrigates around 32,000 acres in Tiruchy and Thanjavur districts. The canal also feeds most of the waterbodies in and around the city which together irrigate about 15,000 acres of farm lands. Ayilai Sivasuriyan, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, said the lakes not only support thousands of acres of farmland but also help recharge the groundwater. 'Several lakes and their source channels are overrun by seemai karuvelam trees, hyacinth, and other vegetation, blocking water flow. The water resources department has shown no interest in clearing them unlike irrigation channels. A few years ago, the court intervened and ordered the removal of prosopis juliflora trees following which the government machinery worked in full swing. Now, nobody cares,' he alleged. Farmers recalled that the previous AIADMK regime had announced the kudimaramathu Scheme to desilt lakes and ponds. But the current government has allegedly abandoned it. During his campaign in Omalur, Salem district, on Saturday, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the scheme would be revived if the party returns to power in 2026. When contacted, executive engineer of the river conservation division, A Nithyanantham, told TNIE that they periodically remove trees and other vegetation from water channels. 'If any individual or private party approaches us, we allow them to cut the trees for their own use,' he said. He also assured that action would be taken to clear the vegetation to ensure free water flow.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers seek monetary assistance for crops damage
Farmers who lost crops to natural calamities and were yet to receive compensation for the damage from the government, during the farmers' grievance meeting held here on Friday, demanded the District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon to expedite the disbursal process. Muthuramu, district president, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, said that farmers who lost crops like paddy, millets, chilly, cotton, and others to excess rains and drought conditions, received the crop insurance amount, but the assistance extended by the State government was yet to be provided to them. An official responding to their queries informed that as ₹38 crores crop insurance amount was already distributed to the affected farmers, they have sought ₹27 crores from the State government to provide monetary assistance to the farmers. Other farmers raised issues of rampant growth of seemai karuvelam on water bodies and vacant lands. Vijayan, a farmer from Malangudi, said that due to the uncontrolled growth of the invasive species, the water level has drastically fallen. 'This not only affects the water supply for drinking purposes and agricultural purposes but also reduces the water holding capacity of the Earth,' he stated. Mr. Simranjeet Singh Kahlon assured the farmers their grievances would be addressed by the respective departments at the earliest.
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Unseasonal rain hits straw demand, TN farmers worried
THANJAVUR: Farmers in Thanjavur district who cultivated summer paddy say the demand for straw has drastically fallen. Though harvest on nearly 45,000 acres has been largely completed, farmers say straw does not get them a good price. One of the reasons cited for the low demand is ample rains across the state and abundance of greenery. 'Very few traders are buying straw. Even those who do offer only around Rs 50 per bundle, whereas last year we got Rs 80,' said R Sukumaran, a farmer from Orathanadu. Officials said summer paddy harvest was nearing completion, adding that farmer concerns over poor straw sales were genuine. Many farmers attribute the reduced demand to the unexpected summer rains, which may have affected the storage and usability of the straw. 'In Ammapettai, the price has dropped to as low as Rs 30- Rs 35 per bundle. This is a huge drop compared to earlier years,' said R Senthilkumar, a farmer and the district deputy secretary of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association. Typically farmers get 50-60 bundles of straw per acre. 'When demand is good, we get even up to Rs 100 per bundle,' said N K Rajan, a farmer from Thanjavur. 'But this season, because of low rates, we are losing nearly Rs 3,000 per acre,' added Senthilkumar. Traders from districts like Salem and Namakkal, who once sourced straw from Thanjavur for mushroom cultivation, seem to be absent this season, another factor contributing to the slump in prices.
New Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
CPI-backed farmers union unhappy over Tamil Nadu govt's paddy MSP
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, affiliated to the CPI, a DMK ally, has expressed disappointment over the state government's recent announcement of incentive above the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy procurement. In a joint statement, the association's president S Gunasekaran and general secretary and former MLA P S Masilamani, said the incentive announced by Chief Minister MK Stalin on June 12 fell short of expectations of the farmers. The statement recalled that at a government function in Salem, Stalin had announced that for the 2025 procurement season, Grade A paddy will be bought at Rs 2,545 per quintal (including Rs 156 as an incentive), while common variety will be procured at Rs 2,500 (including Rs 131 incentive). The association said this contradicted the DMK's 2021 poll promise to offer Rs 2,500 per quintal as the base price, not inclusive of incentives. With input costs rising and other states like Chhattisgarh offering up to Rs 3,120 per quintal, the association urged the CM to raise the procurement price to at least Rs 3,000 per quintal.
