The continuous rainfall in the Thoothukudi district has adversely affected the farmers in its northern regions, including Vilathikulam, Ettayapuram, Kovilpatti and others causing significant crop loss especially pulses and onions.The agricultural lands of the northern part of the district predominantly comprised black soil (karisal soil) rely heavily on the seasonal rainfall for farming. However, in recent years the climate change has shifted the traditional sowing period from July-August to September.
Farmers in this region commonly cultivate crops like black gram, green gram, maize, onion and pearl millet. But the rainfall in the past three days has destroyed the acres of onion and black gram cultivation.
Annakodi, a farmer from the Muthupatti village near Vilathikulam, said that the rainfall has damaged his crops such as black gram and onion across 14 acres of land. “I have not yet received claims for last year’s crop insurance for onions, and now this year’s rainfall has already damaged my crops,” he mentioned.
Prasad, another farmer from Kandasamypuram, said that he suffered a loss of around ₹5 lakh due to current rainfall. He added, “This year has initially promised a better yield, but the rain has left farmers in distress and uncertain about their harvest.”
Anticipating such damage, around 25% of farmers from Pudur had already harvested their onions early without a complete yieldThe continuous rainfall in the Thoothukudi district has adversely affected the farmers in its northern regions, including Vilathikulam, Ettayapuram, Kovilpatti and others causing significant crop loss especially pulses and onions.
The agricultural lands of the northern part of the district predominantly comprised black soil (karisal soil) rely heavily on the seasonal rainfall for farming. However, in recent years the climate change has shifted the traditional sowing period from July-August to September.
Farmers in this region commonly cultivate crops like black gram, green gram, maize, onion and pearl millet. But the rainfall in the past three days has destroyed the acres of onion and black gram cultivation.
Annakodi, a farmer from the Muthupatti village near Vilathikulam, said that the rainfall has damaged his crops such as black gram and onion across 14 acres of land. “I have not yet received claims for last year’s crop insurance for onions, and now this year’s rainfall has already damaged my crops,” he mentioned.
Prasad, another farmer from Kandasamypuram, said that he suffered a loss of around ₹5 lakh due to current rainfall. He added, “This year has initially promised a better yield, but the rain has left farmers in distress and uncertain about their harvest.”
Anticipating such damage, around 25% of farmers from Pudur had already harvested their onions early without a complete yield.
A.Varadarajan, president of Karisal Bhoomi Farmers Association, said that the horticulture department provides a subsidy of ₹70,000 to set up onion storage facilities.
He pointed out that this facility is not extended to all farmers. He urged the department to make this subsidy accessible to all the farmers and requested increasing the subsidy amount from ₹70,000 to ₹2 lakh, to support farmers during these conditions.
