Even while the farmers at the grievances redress meeting held here on Friday made a forceful plea to declare entire Salem district as drought hit and launch drought relief measures with immediate effect, P. Soundararajan, Joint Director of Agriculture, stated that his department has already forwarded the details of poor rainfall and the condition of the standing crop to the government to enable it to take a decision on the farmers’ demand.
One farmer after the other drew the attention of the authorities to the poor rainfall experienced by various parts of the district. The entire district is reeling under severe drought causing heavy financial loss to the hapless farmers.
The government should provide adequate compensation to the crop loss and also undertake drought relief measures.
A.R. Shanmugam, president of Panamarathupatti Lakes Protection Association, said that there was a severe shortage of cattle feed across the district. The government should provide cattle feed at subsidised rate.
C. Vaiyapuri, president of the United Farmers Association – Tamil Nadu, said that the cattle farmers were not able to get straw and grass anywhere in the State. The current drought condition was expected to prolong. The sinking of more and more new borewells had rendered the already existing wells dry. Rural areas were experiencing acute drinking water scarcity and the cattle were the worst hit.
N. Perumal, president of the Salem Maavatta Vivasayigal Sangam, T. R. Rajamanikkam of Veeranam, Sriraman of Pethanayakkanpalayam and other farmers too pleaded with the authorities to declare the district as drought hit.
Mr. Soundararajan said that periodical reports with recommendation of the department were being forwarded to the government to take a decision in this regard.
A group of farmers displayed the withered makka cholam crop to the presspersons on the sidelines of the meeting to explain the severe drought conditions prevailing across the district.
Mr. Perumal, who led the farmers group, said that more than 5,000 farmers had raised makka cholam crop on about 10,000 acres in Thalaivasal, Gangavalli and Veeranam, following favourable climate prevailing then.
However, due to the continuous failure of monsoon, the makka cholam crop had started withering.
He demanded the government to provide a compensation of Rs. 25,000 per acre to the affected farmers.
