Horticulture department staff stage protest on Madurai Collectorate campus on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: MOORTHY G
Demanding the Tamil Nadu government to immediately drop the UATT 2.0 (Uzhavar Aluvalar Thodarbu Thittam) or Farmer Officer Contact Programme, the officials from the Department of Horticulture said that it would in no way help the farmers in the State.
The State-wide strike by the Horticulture department employees was to draw the attention of the policy makers and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.
Speaking to media persons, the members said on Thursday that the Horticulture department was established in 1979 and there was a total of 94 lakh acre crop coverage in the State. Many farmers especially, those with marginal sections, benefited much due to the frequent interaction and advise given by the horticulture department officials on the fields.
The revenue earned, thus, was also higher by 20 times or more than the conventional crops such as paddy and other commodities.
Under such circumstances, the idea of UATT 2.0 would lead to dilution of the purpose and the farmers may stand to lose in the long run. The government should understand that only those with horticulture background in academic can give sustained advise to the growers which would improve their earnings.
The government’s decision to rope in other department officials would only lead to confusion and thus the plan should be scrapped.
Published – November 20, 2025 09:34 pm IST
