Multi-purpose farm pond scheme may not suit Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts due to high land cost, say agriculturists

COIMBATORE The scheme of multi-purpose farm ponds for inland fish rearing has apparently not enthused farmers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts. The scheme envisaging 50 percent back-ended input subsidy of ₹20,000 per farm pond, in the first place, is prioritised for beneficiaries with proven sources of water, and, hence, has not gained traction, it is learnt.

The Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare has called for applications from interested farmers till November 15. In both, Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, the prospective beneficiaries have been told that the applicants will be considered for the scheme on ‘first come, first serve’ basis.

However, leave alone the water source, the farmers are not in a position to spare land for the ponds, due to the cost factor. The cost of land has become extremely high, and the scope for farmers to earn income from inland farming is low also because it is labour-intensive, Ranganathan, a progressive farmer in Coimbatore, said.