T.N. election: Even as parties promise host of schemes, farmers worried about future of agriculture

A joint family, owning about two dozen acres of land in a village near Sattur of Virudhunagar district, raised maize this year. The family spent around ₹9 lakh but could earn only ₹4 lakh, suffering a loss of ₹5 lakh. “Our area is fit only for dry land farming, as there is no scope for irrigation through any river network. Of course, there is not much rain. This is why we have been raising crops such as maize, millet, or cotton, if possible. As an inter-crop, we sometimes opt for black gram,” explains an elderly member of the family.   

Speaking of the economic viability of farming, the elderly person says that even though the family has got enough means to withstand the loss this year, it has decided not to carry on farming by itself hereafter, as the elders are quite sure that the younger members of the family are not keen on pursuing farming.