Timely rain comes as relief to banana, sugarcane growers

The rain is also expected to ease the drinking water scarcity

Widespread rainfall continued for the fourth consecutive day in Tiruchi and Karur districts on Thursday. The rain has come as a huge relief to farmers, especially banana and sugarcane growers in the two districts.

Farmers’ representatives say that the rainfall has been very timely. Standing banana and sugarcane crops could have withered if the searing summer heat had continued for another week or 10 days, they said.

“The rainfall will help all standing crops including banana, sugarcane, betelvine and kora grass crops in Tiruchi and Karur. The crop will survive over the next 20-30 days,” said Mahadhanapuram V.Rajaram, Working president, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association.

The rain is also expected to ease the drinking water scarcity. “More than anything else, there will be an improvement on the drinking water front. The rain has also helped avert the withering of banana and sugarcane crops,” said P.Ayyakkannu, State vice president, Bharathiya Kisan Sangam.

Apart from the banana and sugarcane crops, farmers say that the rain was much needed for coconut and mango trees as a large number of the trees had withered last year owing to the drought like conditions. “Many banana growers did not raise the crop this year, following the losses suffered last year. The rain would also help floriculture crops such as jasmine and rose raised in a few places in Tiruchi district,” said Puliyur A.Nagarajan, president, Tamil Nadu Horticulture Crop Producers Association.

Mr.Nagarajan said the government should build check dams close to every major drinking water scheme on the Cauvery River on the lines of the one built near Kambarasampettai in Tiruchi close to the sources feeding the Ramanathapuram and Tiruchi drinking water schemes. This would help shore up some water during the Mettur closure period and help check the fall in water table in the region, he said.

The rainfall has been widespread in Tiruchi district and even dry belts such as Manapparai, Marungapuri and Thathaiyengarpet have received moderate showers. During the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday, Golden Rock in the city received the maximum rainfall 62 mm. The following is the chief amount of rainfall recorded in other parts of the district during the same period (in mm): Tiruchi Town 56.40; Thuraiyur 56; Tiruchi Junction 55.60; Tiruchi Airport 48.80; Lalgudi 47; Kuppampatti 45; Manapparai 41.20; Samayapuram 38; Navalurkottapattu 36; Devimangalam 32; Thuvakudi 29; Pullampadi 27.40; Marungapuri 27.20; Upper Anicut and Vathalai Anicut 26 each; Pulivalam and Musiri 23 each; Thenparanadu 20; Nandiyar Head 15; Sirukudi 12 and Thathaiyengarpet 10.