Continuous heavy rains over the past two days have led to the inundation of Samba and Thaladi crops on more than 10,000 acres in Mayiladuthurai and 5,000 acres in Nagapattinam, causing concern among farmers. The affected crops were in the maturing stage and close to harvest this month. Traditional crops like Thooyamalli and long-duration crops like CR-1009 were affected, with farmers expressing worry about the potential loss if the rains persist. Thousands of acres of crops in the milky and dough stages, just before ripening, have also been adversely impacted.
Farmers are grappling with lodged crops, and the agriculture department is advising them to promptly drain water to prevent prolonged inundation. In areas like Thirumarugal, Nagapattinam, Kilvelur, and Keelaiyur, mature crops were flattened over hundreds of acres due to the heavy rains. While the rainfall proved beneficial for younger crops, it became a challenge for the mature ones. The agriculture department estimates that Samba and Thaladi paddy cultivations cover approximately 64,000 hectares in Nagapattinam and 69,000 hectares in Mayiladuthurai district, emphasizing the need for farmers to implement control measures to mitigate inundation in their fields.