Vellore (Tamil Nadu): Farmers have urged the district administration to provide organic fertilizers to restore soil fertility and improve nutrition of the crops.
At the farmers’ grievance redressal meeting on Friday, a farmer, Pichandi of Serpadi village said the nutrients in the soil were destroyed by using fertilizers such as urea, potash and complex in the last few decades. "Nearly 35 years ago, the government distributed neeli seeds, known as Indigo. This served as organic fertilizer for the crops. It enriched the crop nutrient and gave good growth," he said.
The district administration should take measures to distribute organic fertilizers, he added.
A number of farmers stressed the importance of green fertilizers for preventing pest attack and magnesium deficiency. Purushothaman, another farmer, said that another organic fertilizer, asola leaf, was beneficial for paddy crops.
Farmers urged the district administration to take efforts to protect sandalwood trees in Javadhu Hills. A farmer said that a special committee should be formed to prevent illegal felling of sandalwood trees. Smugglers were destroying the roots of young saplings in a bid to check the growth of the trees, he said.
K. Ranganathan, a farmer from Thirumalpur village in Arakkonam taluk said there were frequent thefts of wire from the pump sets in agricultural fields.
"We have petitioned several times and have also sought police help but nothing has been done till now. This is costing us several hundreds of rupees," he said. Following this, Collector R. Nanthagopal told the police department to take immediate action and register cases on wire thefts.