A section of farmers from Uvari village in Kallikudi block petitioned Collector T. G. Vinay seeking compensation under Prime Minister Fazal Bima Yojana, a crop insurance scheme, saying two consecutive monsoons failed them.
S. Muthukrishnan, one of the farmers, said they had cultivated paddy, lentils and groundnut between 2017 and 2019. Of the 250 acres of cultivated land in their village, only 20% could be harvested due to monsoon failure in the rain-fed region. “There are 20 farmers who cultivate on the ayacut land of our village tank. With not enough water in the tank and poor groundwater resources, we are not able to raise our crops,” he said.
Mr. Muthukrishnan said the farmers were solely dependent on agriculture for income. “We have pledged our jewellery and used up all our savings to save our crops. We desperately count on the compensation money. Officials have already visited our village and know the facts,” he said.
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The Collector asked officials from the Agriculture Department to look into the matter.