Pest attack and heavy rain have resulted in a serious damage to the tapioca crop in the district.
It all started with pest attack by “sapaathi” when the growth of the leaves was affected curtailing the growth of the plants. Even while farmers were attempting to apply pesticide to control the disease, stagnation of water in the fields following the heavy rain during the northeast monsoon had resulted in extensive damage to the crop.
The area of the crop was about 2,000 hectares and it was raised in Thenpuranadu in Pachamalai, Shobanapuram and surrounding villages in Uppliyapuram block, Vannadu, and Kombai in Thuraiyur block. Pachamalai has a large area of 723 hectares.
Farmers say that they had invested a huge sum on the crop, pinning hopes on adequate returns. But, the pest attack and the heavy rain had caused extensive damage to the crop.
Officials of Horticulture Department say the department has sent a proposal to the State government seeking adequate relief to the rain-hit farmers. “The yield will be far below usual, as the roots had decayed,” the official says and added that the crop will not survive. Tapioca is a crop which can withstand drought-prone condition but it cannot withstand stagnation of water for a prolonged period, the official says.
Farmers say that the normal harvest per acre will be 60 bags each of 75 kg.
Published - December 27, 2015 12:00 am IST
