Agriculture

Coimbatore: The eighth direct farm outlet has been opened in Coimbatore, benefiting around 750 farmers directly and nearly 15,000 farmers indirectly by enabling them to sell their produce without middlemen.The direct farm outlet has been opened on Sundapalayam Road in Thondamuthur as the fourth branch of the Palamalai Farmers Producer Company.G Ranganathan, state organising secretary of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, said the outlet was launched to benefit farmers in the Periyanaickenpalayam block of Coimbatore district.Around 50 varieties of products, including vegetables, grains, turmeric and fruits, will be sold at the outlet.He said the products will be marketed in both raw and value-added forms.The outlet is expected to directly benefit 750 farmers who are members of the producer company and indirectly support more than 15,000 farmers engaged in agriculture in the region.With farm produce often becoming 30% to 50% costlier by the time it reaches retail stores, the direct farm outlet is expected to ensure better returns for farmers while offering lower prices to consumers.

The district administration encouraged farmers to adopt orga .. Read more at:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/131048817.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com&utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

A Field Day highlighting the newly released mid-late maturing sugarcane variety ‘Co 18009’ was organized by ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute in collaboration with Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd. at Kanjappalli village in Annur Taluk of Coimbatore. Addressing farmers and extension officials, Dr P. Govindaraj, Director, ICAR-SBI, emphasized the importance of adopting improved sugarcane varieties such as Co 18009, Co 11015, and Co 14012. He stated that older varieties often suffer from declining productivity, increased disease susceptibility, and reduced profitability for farmers. Highlighting the growing challenge of labour scarcity, he stressed the need to mechanize nearly 75% of sugarcane cultivation to sustain farm incomes. He also informed that the Institute plans to actively involve farmers in the varietal breeding process. Seed material of Co 18009 and extension literature were distributed to participants during the programme.

COIMBATORE: With El Nino fears looming and Coimbatore and Tirupur districts declared drought-prone by the Centre, farmers in Sulur and Avinashi have urged the state govt to ensure uninterrupted water flow to local tanks under the Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme to avert both agricultural losses and drinking water stress.Athikadavu Kousika Nadhi Development Association chairman A Selvaraj wrote to the chief minister’s special cell and the water resources department (WRD), alleging that tanks falling under Sulur, Avinashi and Kavundampalayam assembly segments were receiving very little water through the scheme. As the southwest monsoon has begun, he sought urgent rectification on a “war footing.”In a written response, WRD executive engineer Appusamy said new control valves had been installed in Vagarayampalayam, Kittampalayam, Kulathupalayam and Semmandampalayam to facilitate obstruction-free flow, and pipeline blockages had been cleared. He added that leaks in pipelines serving Ponnegoundan Pudur, Vadugapalayam, Thekkalur, Thanneer Pandhal and Sooripalayam had been repaired, while air valves and outlet management system equipment were being cleaned. In Vayampalayam, Sarkar Samakulam and Devampalayam, new valves were installed and leakages rectified, he said.

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has expanded its crop loan waiver scheme, providing full debt relief up to Rs 75,000 for farmers who borrowed through cooperative banks. The move comes in the wake of criticism of an earlier announcement in which loans were waived only up to Rs 50,000.According to an official statement, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay made the announcement following a high-level review meeting held on June 15, 2026, at the Chief Secretariat. The review was prompted by widespread demands from various stakeholders across the state to broaden the initial waiver scheme announced on May 25, 2026, which had offered full relief only up to Rs 50,000 for small and marginal farmers.Under the revised scheme, the government will provide a 100% waiver of the loan amount for crop loans up to Rs 75,000 and a fixed waiver of Rs 35,000 for loans above Rs 75,000.The waiver covers crop loans availed between May 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026. A total of 14.43 lakh farmers will benefit from this scheme, with the total financial commitment for the state government estimated at Rs 5,932.23 crore.