Cashew farmers seek relief

Cadre of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a demonstration in front of the Revenue Divisional Office at Udayarpalayam on Tuesday demanding compensation for cashew farmers who have been affected by drought-like conditions.

S. S. Sivasankar, Kunnam MLA and district secretary of DMK, V.K.Rajendran, Convenor, party’s farmers wing of the district, and N.R.Ramadorai, convenor of the party’s farm labourers wing, participated in the agitation.

Mr. Sivasankar said that cashew farmers have been affected due to drought-like condition. Though relief has been given to other crops like groundnut, cashew farmers have been left out. He said that a cashew farmer of Irumbulikurichi had committed suicide last year unable to bear debt burden.

Cashew is a major crop raised in Ariyalur district in Andimandam, Senthurai and Jayamkondam blocks and parts of Tha.Pazhur. Normally, farmers harvest five to nine bags (80 kg) an acre as yield. One kg of cashew nut costs Rs. 500 a kg. Cashew nut along with the shell costs Rs. 105 a kg. But farmers have not been able make a good harvest for the past three years. “Trees did not even bloom due to the drought,” he added.

The Hindu