Fri May 30 12:21:22 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Farmers in Thanjavur, India, voiced concerns at an agriculture grievance meeting regarding inadequately executed desilting work and pest infestations impacting coconut palm trees. They also protested new conditions for gold loans proposed by the Reserve Bank of India. Specific demands included a White Paper on desilting efforts, renovation of a crucial barrage, and establishment of a bio-laboratory in Peravurani to combat the “vadal” disease affecting coconut crops.
**News Article:**
**Thanjavur Farmers Protest Faulty Desilting, Pest Infestation, and RBI Loan Policies**
**THANJAVUR, INDIA – MAY 30, 2025** – Frustration and discontent boiled over at today’s agriculture grievance meeting in Thanjavur as local farmers raised serious concerns regarding the quality of desilting work, a devastating pest attack on coconut trees, and stringent new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policies on gold loans.
The meeting, chaired by Collector B. Priyanka Pankajam, was punctuated by a walkout staged by farmers protesting the RBI’s proposed gold loan conditions, which they argue will negatively impact their access to credit.
Following the protest, Farmers proceeded to voice displeasure with the desilting efforts currently underway in approximately 300 locations across the district. Ravichandran of Thanjavur accused officials of rushing to disburse funds for projects that were not being executed according to tender specifications. He demanded a White Paper to shed light on the desilting work carried out.
Beyond the immediate financial concerns, the dire state of coconut palm trees in the Pattukottai and Peravurani areas was a major point of contention. Farmers reported widespread infestation of “vadal” disease, which is decimating coconut crops. Farmers are urging the government to address the crisis and requested that the planned bio-laboratory to combat the disease be situated in Peravurani, where the problem is most acute, rather than the initially proposed location of Eechankottai.
V. Jeevakumar of Budalur also implored authorities to prioritize the renovation of the historic barrage on the ‘A’ Channel near Katchamangalam. He emphasized the vital role this infrastructure plays in providing surface water irrigation to numerous villages downstream.
The issues highlighted at today’s meeting underscore the pressing challenges faced by farmers in Thanjavur, ranging from infrastructure concerns and agricultural diseases to financial policy impacts. The demands made by the farmers highlight the need for a coordinated and effective response from government officials.
First Piper 