S.Aarayiammal (45) of Irumputhipatty near here, who has been yearning for a good spell of rain, feels so relaxed now thanks to the unseasonal rain in different parts of the district.
Ever since the intermittent rains lashed the district for about three days, she and her family members have been taking special efforts to revive the chilli crop raised on about 25 cents. Aarayiammal is not alone.
A lot of other farmers in Kulithalai region too heave a sigh of relief with the unexpected rain. Many farmers say that the rain has come in handy to save the standing crops such as chilli, brinjal, and bendhi (ladies finger). “We were anxiously waiting for rain since the onset of summer as crops were withering due to soaring temperature.
Though we generally raise drought-tolerant crops, the rain will be extremely helpful to maintain moisture in the soil in the critical stage. The rain has improved chances of getting a good yield,” says Aarayiammal.
There are reports that farmers, who raised onion, tomato and other horticultural crops in Pappakkapatty, Kannupatty, Santhai Irunputhipatty, Pamanur, Sanapatty, Ayyalur and other villages in Kulithalai region, were also feeling relieved over the good showers in the hot summer . S.Annadurai of Irumputhipatty said that the groundwater table had increased slightly due to the rain. The water level had gone up although very marginally in the well situated in his farm. He had received similar inputs from the farmers of neighbouring villages too. However, the feel-good factor would not last beyond 10 days as the temperature had again gone up dramatically in the last two days.
