The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rodents tormenting paddy growers

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Monday, Sep 15, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rodents tormenting paddy growers

M. Balaganessin

Service of Narikuravas sought to catch them with bamboo traps

Transplantation of nurseries under way
Crops have suffered extensive damage

PUDUKOTTAI: Rodents have been posing a problem to farmers in some parts of the district, who are transplanting nurseries during this ‘samba’ season.

Farmers of Sooran Viduthi, Vellalakulam, Keezhathur, Vadakaadu and Chidambara Viduthi in and around Alankudi have been hard hit, with rodents dealing a massive damage to the standing crops. Farmers have raised several varieties, and they now lean on the monsoon to save their crops.

Now farmers have roped in the Narikuravas who catch the rats with bamboo traps. The worst hit are those who are about to harvest the crop in a couple of weeks.

G. S. Dhanapathy, district chairman of the Farmers’ Forum of India, says that in the absence of adequate rain, only a limited number of acres has been brought under paddy owing to the paucity of irrigation.

While the ‘ADT 36’, ‘ADT37’ and ‘ADT 39’ varieties of paddy grown on the kuruvai fields are nearing harvest, the samba cultivators had sown ‘Ponni.’ ‘ADT 43’ and the popular ‘BPT’ varieties.

The crops have suffered extensive damage at Andakulam and Killanur in the Kundrandarkovil block and Kothamangalam and Maankadu in the Alankudi block, says Mr. Dhanapathy.

The reluctance of local labourers skilled in catching rats, or their migration to other villages, has forced the farmers to rely on the ‘Narikuravas.’

“We have to shell out at least Rs. 15 for catching a rat.”

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