Tamil Nadu   

Floods leave a bitter aftertaste for farmers

THENI: Destruction of large tracts of betel leaf farms owing to floods in the past two years has forced a majority of farmers at Chinnamanur region in the district to abandon betel leaf cultivation.

The arrival of betel leaf to the wholesale market in the town has come down to 600 kg a day from a whopping 4,000 kgs.

The worst affected are farm labourers as they are adept only in betel leaf cultivation. With no option left, they have started migrating to other districts to work in betel leaf farms there.

Chinnamanur is not only a major betel leaf producing centre in the district but also popular for its high-quality betel leaves that are in good demand even in northern States.

The total area under cultivation has shrunk to 50 acres from 400 acres in this region.

Betel leaf traders also have started importing leaves from Tenkasi and nearby areas, repack them and send them to their regular clients in north India to keep their customer base intact.

Small farmers, generation after generation, raise this crop following traditional methods. Long shelf life, deep green colour and good taste are specialities of betel leaf of this region.”

But it is a very delicate crop, say farmers. “If water level increases in the field, the roots will decay and ultimately the plant will die. And if it decreases below the required level, the plant will wilt and wither.”

The growers incurred a heavy loss owing to flood in November 2006.

“It dealt a severe blow. No compensation was given to us. Revenue officials assessed the situation and submitted the report long back. Nothing had come of it,” said M. Periasamy, a betel leaf grower.

“There were floods again in 2007 and destroyed standing crops on several acres. Our future is uncertain,” he said.

Hundreds of betel leaf growers have lost their house, other properties and jewellery in the process of saving the crop. They demand a decent compensation for the crop loss.

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