Timely summer showers during mid-April have come as a boon to gingelly farmers of Lalgudi block and harvest of the crop has picked up in various pockets since Sunday.
Farmers said that though the rain coincided with the pre-flowering season it has facilitated rich growth of the plant.
An estimated 3,000 acres have been brought under the crop mainly in and around Anandhimedu, Koohoor, Santhamangalam, Nanninmangalam, Anbil, Ariyur, Edaiyatrumangalam, Patchampettai, Mayilarangam and Tirumanamedu.
R. Ravisankar of Anandhimedu says that the average yield per acre stood at four bags each of 75 kg. Traders marketed the produce at the Gandhi Market in Tiruchi. “We can market the produce without any hitch this season,” says Mr. Ravisankar. There has been a growing demand for gingelly in the recent years.
V. Parthiban, a farmer of Pinnavasal, said though he anticipated some marginal profit, the current showers had enabled gingelly farmers realise fair profit. The summer rain, spread over a couple of days, caused some damage to the crop in his fields. Presently, the produce is sold at Rs. 7 a kg.