Unseasonal rain continues to pose challenges for farmers in Ramanathapuram, a significant paddy cultivation area covering about 1.39 lakh hectares. While some farmers have initiated harvest activities, others are waiting for the rain to subside. In an attempt to reduce moisture content, certain farmers are placing harvested paddy on roads to expose it to sunlight.
Paddy cultivation in 2023 has reached a historic high in the district, in stark contrast to 2022 when nearly 70% of crops withered due to December drought. This season, sporadic December rainfall led to the inundation of over 9,000 hectares.
Enumeration revealed a 33% crop loss in 6,500 hectares in 2023, with harvesting ongoing in the remaining 1.32 lakh hectares. The agriculture department has deployed eight harvester machines to assist farmers, with strict price regulations for private operators. The civil supplies department aims to procure 1 lakh tonnes of Samba paddy through proposed direct purchase centres, having opened 70 so far.
Challenges persist as farmers report difficulties caused by unseasonal rain, forcing the use of more expensive track harvester machines and necessitating additional efforts to dry paddy on roads due to increased moisture content. Some farmers are optimistic about sunlight, while others await water drainage for smoother harvesting.
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India