Virudhunagar: Sesame cultivation is getting ready for harvest in Virudhunagar district. The central government has also set a minimum reference price of Rs.8 thousand 635. Due to the high cost of production, farmers have started to expect whether the agriculture department will take steps to increase the purchase price or convert it into a value-added product. Virudhunagar district is dependent on rainfed crops. Maize, sunflower, sesame and cotton are the main crops. In this, the farmers who cultivate sesame are facing many unspeakable miseries. Until last month, a quintal of sesame cost up to Rs.14 thousand. As the harvest is approaching, the price is reduced to Rs.11 thousand. It is the market price. The central government's minimum reference price in regulated sales hall is Rs.8 thousand 635. The state government also provides additional subsidy. There is a demand to avoid loss of farmers. As far as sesame cultivation is concerned, there is a lot of post-harvest work. Due to the shortage of workers due to Nuarday scheme, the environment where people work for high wages, the production cost of farmers is up to Rs.14 thousand per quintal. 700 ml of oil can be obtained from 1 kg of good sesame seeds. The oil is sold in the market for at least Rs.300. Chheck mills have been set up across the district under the Precision Farming Scheme and farmer producer organizations. In this case, if the agriculture department works together and buys through the regulated market and adds value to the sesame and uses the check plants of the farmers' producer companies, both the farmers and producer groups will benefit. But at present farmers' producer companies are used only to set up halls in fairs. Farmers get Rs. 14 thousand only by grinding and marketing in check mills. Sesame farmers can survive only if farmer producer company comes forward as value added product and regulated market to purchase at additional price. In this, the integration of agriculture sector becomes necessary.