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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Farmers' count increases in Madurai -J Arockiaraj

Farmers' count increases in Madurai -J Arockiaraj

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published Published on May 27, 2013   modified Modified on May 27, 2013
-The Times of India


MADURAI: In what may come as a surprise package to the farming community, the number of farmers in Madurai district has increased marginally, even as there is a decline at the national level. In 2001, there were 3.1 lakh land holdings or farmers for a population of 25.78 lakh in the district. But now, the number has gone up to 3.28 lakh against a population of 30.41 lakh in 2011. However, officials say that the numbers might not necessarily mean that more people have taken up farming. "The rise in the number of farmers against the total population may be due to the division of lands between siblings," officials said.

Out of total area of 3.74 lakh hectares in the district, the figure of cultivated land is on the steady decline, though not alarming and there is a marginal increase in the number of farmers when compared to previous census. "Though the figure on cultivable land remains more or less static, most of the agricultural lands are being converted into housing plots. Interestingly, these housing plots will remain as agriculture lands till the buildings are constructed. If the true assessment is undertaken, the loss of agricultural land will be alarming," the survey official who did not want to be quoted, said.

The accounts of farmers will be more depressing even from the pioneering farmers in the district. Among the tens of farmers who attend the monthly grievance redressal meeting, R Arulprakasam, 41, from Thuyaneri and A N M Thiruppathi, 40, from Kulamangalam villages appear to be the younger lot. Though these two farmers are graduates from a reputed institution in Madurai, they willingly opted for agriculture and are known as pioneering farmers.

"There could be some more youngsters in agriculture but they don't seem to be forthcoming and attending the meetings," says Arulprakasam.

After completing his masters in English from the American College, he was working as translator for foreign universities and earning a handsome amount. "I quit it because I liked agriculture, but after a decade I really regret doing so," Arulpragasam says.

"With my educational background, I look out for all the new technologies in agriculture and adopt them, yet it does not work. Agriculture is no more profitable," he rues.

"Everyone depending on agriculture and supplying inputs make big money including the workers because they have alternate work, but not the farmers who toil hard for nothing. We don't get returns because we are not entitled to fix the prices of our produces but somebody else," Thiruppathi says. "To cultivate 20 acres a season, I had to either sell one acre of my land or pledge it. Every agriculture input prices have soared high but not the prices of our produces," he points out.

"We don't need any subsidies or aids from the government, not even the free electricity. We need just one thing - the right to fix the price for our produces," says Thiruppathi.

"As days go on, I am getting frustrated with cultivating all the land I have. Nobody is ready to take note of our plight - neither the government nor the people for whom we cultivate. The indifference meted out to us depressing and I am deeply contemplating to cultivate what I need for my family and leave the rest of my lands barren. Why should I feed the people to whom I don't matter anymore?" asks Arulprakasam.


The Times of India, 24 May, 2013, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-24/madurai/39501362_1_two-farmers-n-m-thiruppathi-arulprakasam


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