Delta farmers express disappointment over revised crop loan waiver

Published 16 June 2026 · politics

Farmers’ organisations in the Cauvery delta region have expressed dissatisfaction with the latest government announcement on the cooperative farm loan waiver, terming it “inadequate” and

Farmers’ organisations in the Cauvery delta region have expressed dissatisfaction with the latest government announcement on the cooperative farm loan waiver, terming it “inadequate” and “discriminatory”. Citing the “loss” of kuruvai crop in the delta due to poor water storage in the Mettur reservoir, the organisations demanded a full waiver of cooperative farm loans, as promised by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in its election manifesto. “The latest announcement that farmers who had availed themselves of crop loans of up to ₹75,000 will get a full waiver, and those who obtained loans exceeding ₹75,000 will receive a waiver of ₹35,000, is totally inadequate. Election promises on farm loan waiver were the first to be implemented by governments in the past.

The successive and varied announcements by the government amounts to a breach of trust,” said P.R. Pandian, president, Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu. Farmers in the Cauvery delta had faced a major setback due to the loss of the kuruvai crop this year, and the “uncertainty” over the availability of water for the samba season. “Given the situation, the Chief Minister’s announcement has come as a big disappointment. He should reconsider it and fulfil his election promise,” Mr. Pandian said. Echoing his demand for a full waiver, Cauvery Dhanapalan, president of Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Sangankalin Kootiyakkam, said the latest announcement was a ruse to “divide and rule” to ensure that farmers who benefited from the scheme did not protest.

“The right thing for the government will be to announce a full waiver as promised. Political parties that have extended support to the government should press the demand,” Mr. Dhanapalan said. Stating that the revised crop loan waiver announcement was “unsatisfactory and discriminatory” Swamimalai Vimalnathan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to reconsider it. He suggested the restructuring of the remaining credit dues of farmers with a guarantee of a full waiver at least in the next financial year. Besides, fresh crop loans should be sanctioned liberally and without conditions to farmers who still had outstanding dues, he said. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday criticised the TVK government over the revised scheme of crop loan waiver, terming it “unprecedented”.