Chennai: Farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Delta districts have urged the state government to assess crop damage from recent unseasonal rains and provide compensation of ₹35,000 per acre.
Leaders of farmers’ unions report that over 3,000 acres of summer crops—including paddy, sesame, cotton, and black gram—were severely affected by heavy rainfall on May 16 and 17 in Thanjavur district.
The downpour also devastated banana plantations and betel leaf farms, causing widespread agricultural losses. In areas like Boothalur, Tiruvonam, Kumbakonam, and Tirupananthal, stagnant rainwater has worsened the damage.
Farmers blamed poor maintenance and delayed desilting of drainage systems for the prolonged waterlogging, which left fields submerged for days.
Vel Murugan, leader of the Thanjavur Farmers’ Association, stated that the ready-for-harvest paddy crop had sprouted due to excessive water retention, making it unfit for sale.
“The entire stretch of paddy cultivation is ruined. We informed the authorities promptly and urged them to visit the affected areas and begin damage assessment, but no official has come so far,” he said.
Expressing frustration over the administration’s inaction, Murugan added that the farmers may be forced to protest if the situation continues to be ignored. “We are in a dire situation. The crop was ready for harvest, and now everything is lost. Immediate intervention is needed.”
Farmers’ associations have urged the state government to promptly assess crop losses and provide ₹35,000 per acre in compensation to help cultivators recover financially.
They emphasised that timely assistance is essential to prevent debt and ensure farming operations continue in the next season.
With agriculture sustaining thousands of families in the Cauvery Delta, farmers have called on district and state authorities to act swiftly before the crisis worsens.
(inputs from IANS)