Durai Vaiko pleads for withdrawing cess on corn; says it will help farmers from southern districts

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Durai Vaiko.
| Photo Credit: File Photo

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) MP Durai Vaiko has appealed to Chief Minister M. K. Stalin to withdraw the one per cent cess on corn as it would benefit a large number of small and marginal farmers growing the produce in southern districts and other parts of Tamil Nadu.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, the MP said that due to the volatile situation prevailing in the farming sector, many small farmers preferred to grow corn as it required minimal water for irrigation. At a time when prices of seeds and fertilizers have gone up, meeting the farm expenditure was a Herculean task.

Many farmers in Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi and other parts of the State, were growing corn. However, with rise in costs and issues like wild boar destroying the fields, the situation had turned from bad to worse for these farmers.

Under such circumstances, the rain too played spoilsport dampening the spirit of the farmers. Though there were insurance schemes, due to financial problems many could not pay the premium. As a result, growing a crop in a small land coverage and producing it had become a big challenge. For majority of farmers, the return on investments was meagre in agriculture sector.

Hence, Mr Durai said that he had appealed to the Chief Minister to withdraw the cess of one per cent imposed on the produce by the State government through a G.O. in December 2024. By withdrawing it completely, it would certainly bring down the price at the procurement stage and at the point of sale for the farmers as the corn was purchased for cattle feed through the farm stores.

The MDMK MP said that the State government, by withdrawing the cess, would save the livelihood of farmers and it would also be a big morale booster for thousands of small and marginal farmers.

After meeting the Chief Minister, Mr Durai met Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Agriculture Minister M. R. K. Panneerselvam in this regard and explained to them how withdrawal of the cess would benefit the farming community in the State, the release added.