Ryots demand Rs 35K per acre relief for crop damage

TIRUCHY: Farmers from Cauvery Delta region demanded a crop damage compensation of Rs 35,000 per acre and release the pending insurance claims for 2021, besides announcing a protest across the Delta region on October 3 to press these demands.

PR Pandian, president, Coordination Committee for all Farmers Associations, said, due to the sudden rains that lashed the Delta region for the past two days, paddy in several thousands of acres was damaged. For instance, the kuruvai crops ready for harvest at Mavoor, Palaiyur, Pinnathur, Andamkarai, Alivalam and Vikkirapandiam have submerged and started to decay.

He said that the state government has been proclaiming that there was an increased acreage of kuruvai this year, but they had failed to procure the paddy. “Though the DPCs started procuring from September 1, centres that functioned in certain places during the previous year have not been opened this year.

Meanwhile, the kuruvai insurance was denied last year and this year too, the same situation is prevailing. “Adding to the pain, the sudden rains have damaged kuruvuai crop, which has caused severe dejection among farmers. So, the state government must initiate steps to disburse compensation at least this year. The government must fix a compensation of Rs 35,000 per acre,” he said.

If the demands are not fulfilled, Pandian warned of a region-wide protest on October 3.