(Tamil Nadu) Pest attack: Farmers seek relief for paddy crop damage

Farmers in Madurai have petitioned authorities seeking compensation for loss of paddy crop due to severe pest attack. At the monthly farmers’ grievance redressal day meeting at the collector’s office on Friday, they urged collector M S Sangeetha to write to the state govt for compensation for the affected crop.

Farmers from many blocks said paddy cultivation was a disaster in the district due to unusual weather conditions. Last month, Samayanallur farmers had reported a severe virus and bacterial attack on crops due to lack of sunlight for over a week during Cyclone Fengal. On Friday, they said the entire district has now seen poor paddy cultivation due to blast and blight. They have lost hope in private crop insurance companies since the method they follow to assess damage was not proper.After a heated debate between agricultural officials and farmers, the collector said that the district administration would order a survey of the crop and take further action. The farmers also demanded a CBI inquiry into adulterated fertilisers and pesticides sold in the district.

The collector explained that it was time farmers upgraded their knowledge on agricultural inputs because these are being upgraded to suit pests and diseases attacking the crops.Farmers also complained that NREGP workers, who were given work during the farming season, are now idling. They said the authorities could plan better with the schedule of NREGP, but the collector said it was a policy decision of the govt as well as the willingness of workers to take on farming work under NREGP. Earlier, the farmers’ representatives thanked the collector and the govt for their efforts to get Union govt to annul the tungsten mining project in Arittapatti.

This article has been republished from The Times of India.