Tamil Nadu - Ramanathapuram   

Drought crops up in Ramanathapuram

C. Jaishankar

Above average monsoon rain notwithstanding

RAMANATHAPURAM: After a gap of two years, drought has surfaced in the district, causing severe damage to the standing paddy corp.

The farmers, who missed an opportunity to cover the standing paddy crop under the National Crop Insurance Scheme, have sought the intervention of the State and Central Governments to their rescue.

Unlike during the severe drought years, the district, as against the average rainfall of 827 mm a year, recorded just above 950 mm last year. In spite of this bountiful rainfall, failure of paddy crop has been reported in several parts of the district.

Except a few areas such as Ramanathapuram, Mandapam and R.S. Mangalam, reports of crop failure are pouring in from major blocks of the district.

The standing crop raised on nearly 1.25 lakh hectares was safe till November because of the good and timely rainfall in October and November, during the Northeast monsoon.

December rainfall is considered the most important for saving the rain-fed crop, as this would facilitate the final stage of watering. However, the expectation of farmers could not be fulfilled, because of the total failure of rainfall in December. It has dealt a severe blow to the farmers. While heavy damage to the paddy crop was reported from Kamudhi, Kadaladi, Paramakudi and Nainarkoil blocks, low productivity was reported from other blocks of the district.

It has prompted the farmers to demand the State and Central Government to declare the entire district as drought-hit.

"Farmers could not utilise the crop insurance opportunity because of a lack of cooperation among the Government agencies in enrolling them for crop insurance and lack of awareness of it among them. We have no other option but to approach the Governments to declare Ramanathapuram a drought hit district," said R. Gnanavasagam, former office-bearer of a farmers' association owing allegiance to the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Demand for survey

Farmers also want the revenue and agricultural officials to take survey of the extent of crop damage in various blocks. The issue also figured in the recent agricultural grievances day meeting.

The Joint-Director of Agriculture, Kader Mohideen, said that crop failure was reported in at least four blocks in the district. Agricultural Officers were directed to assess the crop damage due to drought. Sentiments and demands of the farmers would be represented to the State Government through proper channel, he said.

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Drought crops up in Ramanathapuram

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