Mayiladuthurai/ Thanjavur/ Tiruvarur: Due to the northeast monsoon and the cyclonic system that has formed in the Bay of Bengal, heavy rain has been falling in the delta districts for the past few days. As a result, 6,000 acres of paddy fields have been submerged in rainwater, causing concern among farmers.
In Mayiladuthurai district, the target has been set to cultivate samba and thaladi paddy on 1.60 lakh acres this year, and so far cultivation work has been completed on 1 lakh acres. In this situation, as heavy rain continues to fall, 5,000 acres of young crops have been submerged in water in various villages across the Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvizhandur, Pallavarayanpettai, Ponnur, Pandur, Thiruvengadu, Mangkai Madam, Kollidam, and Sembanarkoil areas of Mayiladuthurai district.
Farmers complain that because drainage canals and rivers have not been properly desilted, young crops have been submerged in rainwater in many places, and because water hyacinth has spread in many rivers, the flow of water has been obstructed.
Similarly, in the areas of Vilangudi, Villianallur, Semmangudi, and Thenkachi under the Thiruvaiyaru block in Thanjavur district, rainwater has accumulated to a depth of three feet in the transplanted fields spread over 500 acres, putting the crops at risk of rotting. Likewise, farmers are worried as rainwater has also accumulated in 100 acres of nursery fields.
Regarding this, farmers said, “The Tamil Nadu government, which takes precautionary measures in Chennai before the monsoon begins, is showing negligence in the Delta region. Since the crops that have been transplanted so far, at a cost of up to Rs. 20,000 per acre, are submerged in water, we do not know what to do. The district administration should assess the fields where the crops have been damaged and provide relief,” they said.
Similarly, 500 acres of samba paddy crops near Kudalur in Tiruvarur district have been submerged in rainwater. In particular, in areas including Arasur, Melappalaiyur, and Ogai near Kudalur, all crops that are 30 days old have been submerged in rainwater. Farmers expressed concern that, with expenses of up to Rs. 10,000 per acre so far, the paddy crops are now at risk of rotting as the rain continues.
Regarding this, agriculture department officials said: Since the rain has been continuing, rainwater has accumulated in the fields in some places. They said the agriculture department will conduct a proper assessment of the rain damage and bring it to the government's attention.