The Hindu Business Line : TN farmers want State to rebuild irrigation facilities

PADDY and sugarcane crops in Tamil Nadu have borne the brunt of the flooding in the recent rains. With the current season almost coming to an end, the State Government would do well to concentrate on rebuilding irrigation and drainage infrastructure to conserve the water for the coming season, say farmers' representatives.

Paddy crop in flooded areas in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and other Cauvery delta regions are a total loss and farmers would have to forego the crop this season. They should look at the 2006 summer season rather than go in for another crop in the current year, say the representatives.

Rice traders do not believe that this will have a significant bearing on the market. Though boiled rice production has come down due to the rains, it is only a matter of days before the rice mills start working.

The damage to the sugarcane crop would result in a drop in sugar recovery at the sugar mills. The crop itself is likely to weather the flooding. This means lower prices to the farmers. But for now, the damage cannot be assessed and it will be known when the mills commence crushing. A few private sector sugar mills and cooperative sugar mills in Tiruchi, Thanjavur and Cuddalore have been hit by the flooding.

Mr S. Ranganathan, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said the State Government should take up restoration of irrigation infrastructure at the earliest. Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts are severely affected. Breaches have occurred in water channels, which need to be repaired fast.

The crops in flooded areas are 80-90 days old. Farmers have essentially lost the season, as harvesting would have otherwise started in a month. Therefore, they need to concentrate on the next summer crop `Kuruvai.' Restoration of irrigation infrastructure would help ensure water availability for the next season, he said.

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