TN coconut growers launch indefinite hunger strike in Delhi

Coconut growers from Tamil Nadu are sitting on an indefinite hunger strike in the national capital to demand that one lakh metric tons of copra coconuts procured by the Central Government be converted into oil under the name of BHARAT COCONUT OIL.

The farmers staged protest at Jantar Mantar close to Parliament -- now in session -- saying their stir will continue till the demand is met. The hunger strike entered its second day on Thursday.

Eesan Murugasamy, founder of Tamilnadu farmers protection Association, told the Rural Voice that NAFED procured copra coconuts from farmers at Rs 108.60 per kg and stocked one lakh MT from Tamil Nadu alone.

"Thus, NAFED is making arrangements to sell the coconuts in the open market very seriously. Taking advantage of this, the big companies involved in coconut oil business have formed a syndicate and plan to bid at Rs 65 per kg," he said.

Noting that only 10% of the total copra coconut production is procured by the central government, he said the remaining 90% of the coconuts are sold in the open market. 20% of copra procured in Karnataka was sold by NAFED in the open market. Tamil Nadu’s copra price has come down from Rs 90 to Rs 85, he pointed out. While selling one lakh metric tonnes of copra, which is procured from Tamil Nadu, the cost of copra per kg is Rs 85. It will fall to Rs 50. The price of coconut is Rs 12 and will fall to Rs 5. "As a result, one crore coconut farmers in India will be severely affected," Murugasamy apprehended.

NAFED buys wheat from farmers and sells wheat flour under the name Bharat Atta, Dals under the name Bharat Dal and onion under the name Bharat Onion. But coconut farmers are being severely affected as NAFED is buying copra

coconuts and selling them in the market as copra, he rued.

Therefore, on behalf of the Indian coconut farmers and all agricultural associations, an indefinite hunger strike is being held, he said, adding that it will continue till the fulfillment of the demand to convert one lakh metric tons of copra coconuts purchased by NAFED into oil under the name of BHARAT COCONUT OIL.

"We request everyone to participate in the hunger strike in large numbers," he said on behalf of the Coconut Growers Federation of India, Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association and Joint Movement of Tamil Nadu Farmers Societies.