Farmers stage protest seeking implementation of crop loan waiver promise in Erode

More than 500 farmers, under the banner of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association, staged a protest in Erode on Monday (June 1, 2026), alleging that the State government had failed to fulfil its election promise of waiving crop loans.

The protest was led by Easan Murugasamy, founder of the association. Addressing the gathering, he said that many farmers across the State continued to face mounting debt burdens owing to rising cultivation costs, fluctuating market prices, and adverse weather conditions.

Mr. Easan said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, during his election campaign, had promised a full waiver of crop loans for farmers owning less than five acres and a 50% waiver for those owning more than five acres. However, the government had announced a waiver of only ₹5,000 for loans exceeding ₹1 lakh and a 50% waiver for eligible small farmers. “The waiver structure is unacceptable. We want the government to implement the promise made during the election campaign in full,” he said.

The demonstrators raised slogans against the government and accused it of neglecting farmers’ welfare despite assurances given during the Assembly election campaign. They contended that the crop loan waiver had been projected as a key promise to secure farmers’ support, but no concrete steps had been taken to implement it after the government assumed office.

The protesters urged the government to honour its election commitment and announce a comprehensive crop loan waiver scheme at the earliest. They said such a measure would provide much-needed relief to small and marginal farmers struggling to sustain agricultural activities amid increasing financial pressures.

Farmers from various parts of the district participated in the agitation and warned that they would intensify their protests if their demands were not addressed.