Insufficient Rains Turns Maize Crop to Fodder

Trichy: In Kunnam and Veppanthattai taluks in Perambalur district, Maize crops raised in 1.20 lakh acres. District have failed to yield for want of sufficient water, forcing farmers to cut down the crops to use as fodder for their cattle.

Various farmers' bodies have appealed to the state government for compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre compensation for crop loss.

Perambalur district farmers generally take up maize, cotton, sugarcane, and shallot cultivation. In Kunnam and Veppanthattai taluks in Perambalur district, they had raised maize in around 1.20 lakh acres.

S Murugaian, who raised maize in around two acres in Veppanthattai. He said that, a large number of farmers had sowed maize in the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July) expecting good rain. The farmers somehow managed to irrigate the fields to help the seeds germinate after the rain failed. But the crops failed to yield, following deficit rainfall even in the month of September and October.

He also said, "There should be sufficient rainfall so that the grain can mature. However, there was neither enough rain nor water in the wells to irrigate the crop,"

The farmers who sowed maize during the month of Aadi suffered a lot, said Raja Chidambaram, general secretary, Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, Perambalur. Some farmers can harvest with the help of recent rains, those who commenced the process after two months escaped the water problem.

He said, "To raise maize in one acre a farmer has to spend between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20, 000. Water is a must during germination and maturing. Maize in nearly 60,000 acres has gone waste so it can now be used only as fodder."

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/