MUMBAI, 28 Nov (Commoditiescontrol): Heavy rains have inundated crops across 13,749 hectares in Tamil Nadu, according to preliminary reports shared by Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, M R K Panneerselvam. The minister was addressing media personnel on Thursday after inspecting rain-affected paddy fields in Ukkadai village, located in the Thanjavur district.
Minister Panneerselvam stated that officials from the Agriculture, Revenue, and other departments are actively assessing the extent of crop inundation caused by the heavy rains.
"The exact damage will be determined only after the water recedes from the fields," the minister said. For crops that have suffered 33% or more damage, compensation will be provided to affected farmers, he added.
As per the initial assessment, the districts that have reported crop inundation are Thanjavur (947 hectares), Mayiladuthurai (3,300 hectares), Nagapattinam (7,681 hectares), Tiruvarur (958 hectares), Ramanathapuram (822 hectares) and Cuddalore (500 hectares).
Thanjavur district, known as Tamil Nadu's rice bowl, primarily cultivates paddy, along with pulses, groundnut, and sugarcane, while smaller crops like maize, soybean, and red gram are also grown. In Cuddalore, the main crops include paddy, maize, black gram, green gram, sugarcane, groundnut, and cotton.
Highlighting the state government’s efforts, the minister noted that the DMK Government has introduced a separate budget for agriculture to address critical issues like canal desilting. "Allocations are being made to desilt C and D category canals through the Agriculture Engineering Department. Canals that have not been desilted so far will also be addressed," he said.
He also directed the Agriculture Department to identify areas prone to frequent flooding and coordinate with the Water Resources Department (WRD) for desilting A and B category canals, ensuring better water management.
The minister was joined by Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiaan, Thanjavur District Collector B Priyanka Pankajam, and Rajya Sabha MP S Kalyanasundaram during the inspection.
As the affected areas await the water to recede, the state government’s ongoing evaluations will provide a clearer picture of the overall crop damage. The administration’s focus on preventive measures like canal desilting and immediate compensation for damaged crops highlights their efforts to support farmers during this challenging time.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91 98201 30172)
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