Heavy rains triggered by Cyclone Ditwah have caused extensive damage to agriculture in Tamil Nadu's delta region, submerging more than one lakh acres of samba and thaladi paddy crops. Affected farmers are now demanding that the central government recognize this crisis as a national calamity and provide immediate assistance through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Extent of Agricultural Damage
According to official reports from the agriculture department, out of 4 lakh hectares (approximately 10 lakh acres) of samba and thaladi paddy sown, at least 50,000 hectares (over 1.25 lakh acres) have been completely flooded. While comprehensive crop loss assessment is still pending, preliminary estimates suggest damage across thousands of hectares, dealing a severe blow to the agricultural community in the region.
Farmers Demand Immediate Government Action
In a significant development, Swamimalai S Vimalanathan, secretary of Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, has written to the Union government highlighting the severe livelihood crisis facing farmers. The association has demanded that all rain-affected areas in Tamil Nadu be declared natural disaster zones due to the cyclone's impact.
"Farmers are enduring massive livelihood setbacks from this natural disaster and are uncertain about their next steps," Vimalanathan stated in the letter. "We ask the central authorities to deploy a team for on-ground, aerial, and satellite-based damage assessments of the cyclone and floods."
Call for Comprehensive Relief Measures
The farmers' association has urged both state and central governments to take immediate action. They have specifically requested that all coastal districts be officially proclaimed as disaster-stricken areas to ensure that relief support reaches affected farmers without delay. The demand for NDRF assistance underscores the severity of the situation and the need for substantial financial support to help farmers recover from this natural calamity.
As the agricultural community faces one of its toughest challenges in recent times, the timely intervention of government authorities remains crucial for the survival and recovery of thousands of farming families in the delta region.
