Check adulteration of sago: farmers

Sago unit owners should be included in vigilance committees

A plea to the district administration to take effective steps for checking adulteration in sago manufacturing process was made at the farmers grievances redress day meeting held here on Friday.

M. Asia Mariam, District Collector, presided over the meeting.

K. Sundaram, general secretary of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam raised this issue and alleged that makka cholam flour is used in the preparation of sago. The government should take effective steps to check this adulteration by setting up vigilance committees in the district.

The farmers representatives and sago unit owners too should be included in the vigilance committees. He also pleaded for awareness meetings to check this illegal practice.

Mr. Sundaram said that the government should issue a GO that sago should be prepared only after peeling the skin from tapioca root. The officials of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department should conduct surprise checks regularly in these mills and initiate stringent action against the erring mills.

The farmers representatives also pleaded for a survey for identifying the organic farmers in the district and impart specialised training to them, besides extending adequate subsidy linked financial assistance.

Such an initiative will go a long in promoting the interest of organic farmers and also in maintaining sustainability, enhancement of soil fertility and biological diversity and in prohibiting synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and antibiotics.

Some farmers took exception to the presence of a sand quarry in River Cauvery bed near Mohanur, despite the stiff opposition by the local people and farming community.

The continuance of the quarry will badly affect the farm operation and drinking water sources.

The farmers and other sections of the society have already organised various agitations to express their opposition to this quarry. The government should at once close this quarry, they added.

There is still confusion on the issue of getting permission for the lifting of silt free of cost from the dry beds of water bodies in the district. The farmers are still not aware on whom to approach for submitting their applications and getting permission. They also sought clarification from the authorities whether the farmers were entitled to lift the silt only from their respective villages.

Ms. Asia Mariam said that farmers should submit their application for lifting to the tahsildar through the VAO. The concerned tahsildar will take decision based on prevailing circumstances on according permission for the lifting of silt in the water bodies of other villages.

The animal husbandry department is providing fodder at subsidised rate to all the farmers who have registered for the same. The district is expected about 100 tonnes of dry fodder soon, the Collector added.