Prolonged drought has taken a heavy toll on coconut trees in several parts of the State, including the Tiruchi-Karur stretch along Cauvery river.
Hundreds of coconut trees have withered along the 80-km stretch. Coconut groves, which were once a treat to the eyes of the travelling public, look dry and stunted. While several trees are headless - without fronds and nuts, many others are rapidly shedding them. Only a few groves, which have filter points, are able to overcome the severe drought.
Farmers fear that the situation will lead to complete withering of the trees if monsoon does not start within the next month or so. The impact is more vivid at Thirupparaithurai, Pettavaithalai, Mutharasanallur, Kulithalai, Lalapettai, Mayanur, Nangavaram and other places which are known for good water resources thanks to Cauvery river irrigation system.
“All the 150 trees raised on my grove have withered. It is painful to see the trees which are supposed to give yield for about 25 years. We have suffered a huge loss and our 10 years of hard work has become waste,” said M. Valayapathi (45), a farmer of Thenkadaikurichi near Nangavaram.
Though farmers recall a similar situation in 2004, they say they have never seen such a large-scale damage to the coconut trees along the Cauvery river due to prolonged drought. With no other option, many farmers have started cutting down well-grown but withered trees.
“Coconut farmers are in real distress. Around 50% to 60% of coconut trees in the region have withered. There is no immediate prospect for either good rain or opening of the Mettur dam. There is a likelihood of more than 70% of the trees dying in the next two to three months,” said Koundampatti R. Subramanian, deputy secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association.
Quoting a preliminary report, a senior official of the Agriculture Department told The Hindu that drought had cast a shadow on coconut farmers. About 50% of coconut trees in the district had either withered or in an advanced stage of withering. The State government had sought a report on the extent of damage to the coconut trees across the State. The enumeration would be completed within a week, he said.
