Failure of groundnut crop likely to affect Kuruvai cultivation in Ranipet

RANIPET: Failure of the groundnut crop after being affected by leaf spot disease last month has resulted in farmers being strapped for cash to start sowing of kuruvai paddy in Ranipet district.

According to Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam youth wing state president R Subash a minimum of 2500 acres was affected by the disease in the district. Tamil Nadu Farmers Association Vellore district president K Raja said: “It was a total loss for me after cultivating groundnut crop in 3 acres.”

Asked if agriculture department had provided any succour, Raja said: “When they came to check the crop, the disease was already in an advanced stage and hence they said nothing could be done.”

However, what irks Ranipet district farmers now is that they are now hard up for cash to raise Kuruvai paddy. “When we approached Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks (PACBs) we are told to come again and this repeated excuse resulted in loans being delayed or not being given at all,” a farmer seeking anonymity said.

Also, officials cite the excuse of the central government taking over such banks or else ask us to repay existing loans before seeking a fresh one, farmers lamented. When asked about this, Vellore Central Cooperative Bank (VCCB) chairman V Ramu said, “only town cooperative banks are under the purview of the Reserve Bank of India. PACBs are still guided by the cooperative department and hence there is no obstacle to farmers obtaining loans. Also, affected farmers are now being compensated through crop insurance and hence cash will not be an issue to start paddy cultivation,” the official said.

With nearly 30,000 acres to be covered by the Kuruvai paddy, expeditious action is necessary if this crop is also not to suffer, sources at farmers revealed.

PACBs are still guided by the cooperative department and hence there is no obstacle to farmers obtaining loans

—V Ramu, Chairman, Vellore Central Cooperative Bank