Replying to the debate on the Revised Agriculture Budget in the Assembly, Vinoth said the Chief Minister had directed administrations in all districts to closely monitor crop area. A preliminary assessment, covering areas where crop losses of 33 per cent and above were reported, showed that 23,309 hectares had been affected, he said.

Of the affected area, oilseeds accounted for the largest share at 8,700 hectares, followed by millets at 5,970 hectares and paddy at 5,463 hectares. Pulses were affected across 2,245 hectares, while sugarcane, cotton and horticultural crops were affected across 753,17 and 161 hectares respectively. "The assessment is continuing, and the government will take appropriate steps to provide relief from the State Disaster Response Fund," Vinoth told the House.

The minister said districts had received uneven rainfall following the El Niño event, affecting crops under cultivation. The government would take further action if drought conditions persisted in accordance with prescribed norms.

Minister Vinoth also referred to measures taken to safeguard farmers' livelihoods following the delayed opening of the Mettur dam. The government had allocated Rs 134.83 crore for the kuruvai package covering Delta and non-Delta districts, under which 8.41 lakh acres had so far been brought under Kuruvai paddy cultivation against the normal area of 10.60 lakh acres.

Under the crop insurance scheme, cases of prevented sowing and failed sowing had been reported in Delta districts. Farmers unable to raise crops, as well as those whose crops were damaged within 30 days of sowing, would receive an average compensation of Rs 23,465 per hectare, subject to scheme norms.

The minister said 3.98 lakh acres of paddy had been insured by 1.34 lakh farmers this season, compared with 2.77 lakh acres insured by 1.05 lakh farmers during the previous kuruvai season.