The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University conducted a ‘Farmers’ Parliament’ here last week to discuss issues related to development of agriculture and welfare of farmers. Besides farmers (drawn from different agro-climatic zones in the State), others who were drawn to the two-day discussion included students, scientists, extension personnel and economists.

Farmers who took part in the discussion said it was a different experience for them.

Insightful discussion

The Parliament was not merely to discuss the crop yield levels, but get insights into a range of issues such as irrigation feasibility and potential, use of farm implements and machineries, crop subsidy, insurance, kisan credit card and finance.

The functioning of marketing institutions, procurement institutions, private industries in farming development, legal issues and those related to trade policies of the Central and State Government also figures besides genetic technology and functioning of agricultural universities and research stations among others.

Policy formulation

The input from the said discussion, University sources say, would be provided to the Government for drafting agricultural policy and drawing up an action plan to improve yield levels.

TNAU Vice-Chancellor K Ramasamy said that inputs from the discussion would be compiled into a report for use by both the Centre and State.

Before commencement of this exercise, farmers were grouped into seven zones — Cauvery Delta zone, North-Eastern zone, North-Western zone, Western zone, Southern zone, high-rainfall zone, and high-altitude and hilly zone.

Director of Extension Education KA Ponnusamy coordinated the event.

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