Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122757630300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Farmers salvaging paddy crops in Tiruvarur district

Special Correspondent

They were submerged recently

TIRUVARUR: Farmers in several parts of Cauvery delta region of Tiruvarur district are engaged in saving the standing samba and thaladi paddy crops by applying urea and green manure as suggested by the Agriculture Department.

A senior Department official told The Hindu on Thursday that farmers in some pockets of Needamangalam, Mannargudi and Tiruvarur blocks had managed to save about 25 per cent of the paddy crops submerged in the heavy rains.

However, they are worried whether they could salvage at least 50 per cent of the yield.

Total damage

Collector M. Chandrasekaran had stated that the entire samba and thaladi paddy crops raised in about 1.34 lakh hectares were totally damaged in the rains.

The revenue officials have assessed the crops damaged caused by the rains.

Compensation

The district administration is also taking steps to provide compensation to the farmers whose paddy crops were damaged in the rains.