The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Monsoon plays spoiler for ragi

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Thursday, Aug 26, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Monsoon plays spoiler for ragi

M. Balaganessin

— Photo:R. Ashok

despair abounds:Farmers of Rajagiri village salvaging ragi damaged in rain.

PUDUKOTTAI: Ragi growers have borne the brunt of the moderate showers in parts of the district over the past few days. With no rainfall on Wednesday, the ragi growers started salvaging the crop by drying them on the Tiruchi – Viralimalai Highway, shortly after harvesting it.

Farmers complain that the harvest this season was far below the normal yield, because of monsoon failure. The problem of fall in yield became worse following showers in the past few days.

S. Kandasamy, a farmer of Rajagiri village, said that ragi growers in Seravur, Mettupatti, Karuthakalipatti, Pulavanpatti, Koothankudi, Kolakkaranpatti, Kal Adaikkumpatti besides Rajagiri were the worst-hit following showers last week. The farmers had raised the crop in about 100 acres.

K. Subburaya Gounder, a progressive farmer, said that against the average per acre yield of 10 bags, each of 100 kg, he could harvest only 5 bags this season. The showers has resulted in flowering of a part of the produce, forcing us to salvage it on the Highway.

The demand for ragi has been on the rise especially from companies manufacturing nutrient products and the growing demand has been a solace for the farmers to market the crop immediately. The price at Viralimalai, the nearest wholesale purchase centre, was Rs.1,000 a quintal, he says. The yield would have been higher had the villages received rainfall last month, farmers say. According to official sources, 1,511 hectares had been brought under ragi cultivation this year. The harvest was in progress at various villages.

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