A crucial field survey to assess the extensive damage caused to samba and thaladi paddy crops by Cyclone Ditwah has been launched across the key delta districts of Tamil Nadu. This evaluation will determine the financial relief for thousands of affected farmers.
Officials Race Against Time in Flooded Fields
Since Monday, teams comprising assistant agricultural officers and village administrative officers have been inspecting farmlands. Their mandate is clear: to identify and document crops where the damage has crossed the critical 33% threshold for compensation eligibility. The task is monumental and fraught with challenge due to persistent water inundation in vast tracts of land.
The cyclone's heavy rainfall led to the flooding of approximately 80,000 hectares of young paddy crops. This includes month-old samba and two-week-old thaladi varieties spread across the agriculturally vital districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai.
Innovative Assessment Protocol for Swift Action
Facing the challenge of waterlogged fields, authorities have adopted a pragmatic approach. "Staff are assessing damage in areas where floodwaters are receding locally, without waiting for complete drainage across the entire district," explained J Sekar, the Joint Director of Agriculture in Mayiladuthurai. This strategy is designed to expedite the process.
In some regions, the situation is particularly dire. Crops had already been submerged for over ten days even before Cyclone Ditwah struck, making recovery impossible due to prolonged waterlogging. T Bala Saraswathi, Joint Director of Agriculture in Tiruvarur, clarified the protocol for such cases: "Staff have been instructed not to wait for floodwaters to recede in areas of prolonged stagnation. They must extract samples for inspection; if the samples are decayed, the crops are recorded as damaged."
Digital Tools and Compensation Framework
The survey process is being digitized for efficiency and transparency. Officials are using a dedicated 'Crop Damage Assessment App' on their mobile devices. They capture photographs, record meticulous details, and upload data directly. The information logged includes:
- Land parcel identification details
- Farmer's name and particulars
- Crop type and stage
- Extent of the affected area
- Geospatial coordinates for accuracy
The Tamil Nadu government has announced a compensation package of Rs 20,000 per hectare for paddy crops damaged beyond the 33% limit. This translates to roughly Rs 8,086 per acre. The relief funds will be drawn from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
S. Kannan, Joint Director of Agriculture in Nagapattinam, outlined the next steps: "Once the survey is complete, the submitted details will be reviewed by the government, and relief will soon be disbursed to affected farmers through online direct beneficiary transfer." Officials have been directed to wrap up the field survey within a week and submit their reports to initiate the relief processing, offering a ray of hope to the distressed farming community in the Cauvery delta region.
