Tapioca and maize farmers from Erode and Salem districts staged a sit-in at the Collectorate on Monday, urging the district administration to reopen a starch factory at Poonachi in Anthiyur taluk, which has remained closed for two months.In a petition submitted to the district administration during the weekly grievances redress meeting, the farmers said the closure of the private starch manufacturing unit had disrupted the sale of their produce and affected their livelihoods.The factory procures about 400 tonnes of tapioca and 300 tonnes of maize daily for starch production. The farmers said they had been cultivating tapioca for 30 years and maize for 13 years, relying on the factory to purchase their produce directly without middlemen.
Payments were credited to their bank accounts the following day, they said.With the tapioca harvesting season underway, the closure had left farmers struggling to sell their produce. Transporting tapioca to factories in Attur and Rasipuram cost an additional ₹500 a tonne, while private traders offered low prices, they said.The onset of the northeast monsoon had increased the risk of tapioca rotting, while maize could develop fungal growth and germinate if it remained damp for two or three days, rendering it unfit for sale.The farmers urged the Collector to take immediate steps to reopen the factory.
They later staged a sit-in inside the Collectorate complex and argued with police personnel who attempted to pacify them. They dispersed after a brief protest.
Published - November 02, 2026 06:41 pm IST