Chennai: Farmers from the Delta districts of Tamil Nadu have urged the state government to swiftly assess crop losses caused by recent unseasonal rain and to provide compensation of Rs 35,000 per acre for the damage incurred.

Leaders of various farmers' unions reported that over 3,000 acres of summer crops, including paddy, sesame, cotton, and black gram, were severely damaged in Thanjavur district due to heavy rain on 16 and 17 May.

Banana and betel leaf farms also hit

The sudden downpour also caused significant damage to banana plantations and betel leaf farms, leading to extensive agricultural losses across the region. In places such as Boothalur, Tiruvonam, Kumbakonam, and Tirupananthal, stagnant rainwater in the fields further worsened the situation.

Farmers stated that poor maintenance and delays in desilting inlet and outlet drains prevented the water from draining in time, leaving fields submerged for several days.

“Entire stretch of paddy ruined”

Vel Murugan, leader of the Thanjavur Farmers’ Association, said the ready-for-harvest paddy crop had sprouted due to prolonged waterlogging, 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 lack of response from the administration, Murugan added that farmers might be compelled to protest if the issue continued to be neglected.

“We are in a dire situation. The crop was ready for harvest, and now everything is lost. Immediate intervention is needed.”

Call for swift action and relief

Farmers’ associations have demanded that the state government initiate immediate crop loss assessments and disburse compensation of Rs 35,000 per acre to support cultivators affected by the financial setback.

They emphasised that timely assistance is essential to avoid indebtedness and to ensure farming operations can continue in the upcoming season.

IANS inputs