The plight of the Thanjavur delta farmer is worsening by the day, with no light at the end of the tunnel. First, he encounters an acute labour shortage. With construction activities on in and around urban centres, farm hands are attracted to work there. Secondly, MGNREGS has taken away whatever little workforce is available on the farms. The scheme has, in fact, done more harm than good as it does not help improve the rural economy as it claims to do. Thirdly, frequent power-cuts at odd hours many times a day play havoc with farming.

The weather god too has not been kind to the delta farmer this year. With great difficulty after the harvest of samba crops, he raised what is called the ‘pre-kuruvai' crop or third crop of paddy. But when it was ready for harvest, came the unseasonal rains. The ripe paddy crops could not wither the fury and onslaught of rains and they fell flat on the ground and got inundated. No trader has come forward to buy the produce. Even if one comes forward, he offers the farmer a very poor price. Paddy is one commodity which has no ready market. Unless some concrete steps are taken by the government to save the farmer, there is the danger of small and marginal farmers leaving their lands.

S. Vembu,

Chidambaranathapuram

Share