Pay compensation for crop damage or face protest, warn Delta farmers

TIRUCHY: Farmers from Thanjavur approached the Collector with withered paddy crop due to the continuous rains and demanded proper compensation on Wednesday. The farmers also cautioned that they would stage protests if their demands were not met.

As there was heavy rains across the Delta region for the past few days, several thousands of acres of paddy got submerged and the water failed to recede even after days. Adding to this, water flowing out of irrigation canals, which suffered breaches, damaged crops across the region.

On Wednesday, a section of farmers from Thanjavur carrying withered kuruvai crops approached the Collector for compensation. The farmers said that the ready-for-harvest kuruvai crops at Chithirakudi, Vairaperumalpatti, Gunamangalam, Sithavayal, Kalvirayanpettai and Rayanthur in the district had been damaged by the heavy downpour. This apart, the samba nurseries across the region had been spoiled due to water logging on the fields.

Farmers met Collector Dinesh Ponraj Oliver and submitted a petition for damage assessment and proper compensation. Subsequently, they also submitted a petition with the Thanjavur division TNCSC and demanded officials to conduct a proper assessment.

They said that they were getting ready for the kuruvai harvest in 15 days, but sudden heavy downpour had submerged all the crops. “We have spent at least Rs 40,000 per acre. Since the crops had fallen on the grounds, the process of harvest would stretch to three hours per acre instead of one hour during normal days. This will incur additional cost for us for the harvest,” the farmers said in their petition.

They demanded at least Rs 30,000 per acre as compensation. This apart, the farmers pointed out that the moisture condition of the paddy has increased from 19 to 21 per cent due to the unseasonal rains. “Since the DPCs mandatorily procure paddy with less than 17 per cent, we are in a difficult situation. So, the government should relax the moisture condition level and procure paddy with a maximum of 21 per cent,” they said.

The farmers also warned that they would organise a series of protests if the government delays in meeting their demands.