Massive Crop Destruction in Tamil Nadu's Delta Region
The delta region of Trichy is facing an agricultural catastrophe as Cyclone Ditwah-induced rains have submerged more than one lakh acres of samba and thaladi paddy crops. Affected farmers are now urgently demanding that the central government recognize this disaster as a national calamity and provide immediate assistance through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Extent of Damage and Official Assessment
According to agriculture department estimates, approximately 4 lakh hectares (roughly 10 lakh acres) of samba and thaladi paddy had been sown across the region. The cyclone's heavy rainfall has flooded at least 50,000 hectares (over 1.25 lakh acres) of these crucial crops. While official crop loss figures are still being compiled, authorities acknowledge that the damage spans thousands of hectares with devastating impact on the agricultural community.
In a formal communication to the Union government, Swamimalai S Vimalnathan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, highlighted the severe livelihood crisis unfolding in the region. "Farmers are enduring massive livelihood setbacks from this natural disaster and are uncertain about their next steps," Vimalnathan stated in the letter.
Farmer Demands and Relief Measures
The farming community has put forth several critical demands to address the emergency situation:
- Immediate declaration of all rain-affected areas in Tamil Nadu as natural disaster zones
- Deployment of a central evaluation team for comprehensive damage assessment using ground, aerial, and satellite methods
- Official designation of all coastal districts as disaster-stricken regions
- Expedited distribution of relief support to affected farmers
Vimalnathan emphasized the need for swift action, stating, "We ask the central authorities to deploy a team for on-ground, aerial, and satellite-based damage assessments of the cyclone and floods." The association has also urged the state government to ensure that relief measures reach all affected farmers without delay.
The situation remains critical as farmers face not only immediate crop losses but also uncertainty about their future agricultural activities. The demand for national calamity status underscores the severity of the destruction and the need for comprehensive government intervention to support the farming community through this crisis.
