At a time when farmers in Karaikal expect a good paddy yield in the current season after receiving Cauvery water, they are faced with a peculiar problem — peacocks.
Farmers of T. R Pattinam, Neravvy, Keezhakasakudi, Mela Keezhakasudi and Pillaitheruvasal are struggling to keep the birds at bay which stray in large numbers into the paddy fields in search of worms and insects, thereby completely damaging the crops.
According to Arogyadas, a farmer in Pillaitheruvasal, the peafowl population had multiplied. “Three to four years ago, there were only a handful of peacocks in the area.
“But the number had increased as peacocks start breeding from a young age,” he said.
Varadarajan, another farmer from the locality, said they were also worried that the birds may perish as the fields are sprayed with pesticides.
“We will be made accountable for the incident. We are now chasing the bird away but the damage to the crop has already been done,” he said. The President of the Karaikal Region Farmers Welfare P. Rajendran said the forest department should use its resources to redeploy the peacocks into the forest area.
If the department does not act now, the population of the bird will increase further and then it would be difficult to manage the situation, he added.
Cultivation hit
“Some forty years ago, there were around 12,000 hectares of paddy under cultivation in Karaikal. Now, it has come down to 6,000 hectares. If issues were not addressed people may stop cultivation resulting in further dip in paddy production,” he said.
Borewell construction
Mr Rajendran also demanded the relaxation of government rule giving permission for the construction of borewells. Presently, borewells were allowed to be constructed 6 km away from the coast.
Farmers who have constructed borewells in the stipulated distance were not able to draw adequate water. The distance should be relaxed to 4 km, he said.
