Farmers level paddy on 30 acres as crop withers without water

CUDDALORE: Farmers at Erumanur village near Vridhachalam in Cuddalore district destroyed paddy crops raised in about 30 acres as the crops withered within 40 days of sowing without adequate water for irrigation.

Farmers in Erumanur and neighbouring villages raise samba crops every season solely depending on rain to meet the irrigation needs. This season they had cultivated paddy on about 30 acres. However, as the rains failed, the crops began to wither. Their attempt to revive them by supplying water from borewells went in vain.

The farmers said they had invested about 25,000 per acre to raise paddy.

"Rains failed this season and unusually high heatwaves compounded our woes. We have suffered a huge loss. We request the government to constitute a committee of experts to undertake field visits to evaluate the quantum of loss and provide adequate compensation," said a farmer.