Rs 16.85 Crore Relief for Tamil Nadu Farmers Hit by Kuruvai Crop Loss

The state government has issued orders to pay Rs 16.85 crore as relief to 22,533 farmers in the Cauvery delta who experienced kuruvai crop loss due to deficit rainfall during the southwest monsoon and insufficient water release from Mettur dam. This relief, sourced from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), is being distributed following a G.O. issued on February 13.

An enumeration in the delta districts of Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, and Thanjavur revealed a yield loss exceeding 33% across approximately 12,484 hectares. As per the relief scheme, farmers are eligible for Rs 13,500 per hectare.

In Nagapattinam, the most affected district, 21,816 farmers will receive a total of Rs 16.73 crore for the loss of paddy cultivated over 12,125 hectares. In Tiruvarur, 623 farmers will receive a total of Rs 38.47 lakh for the loss of paddy on 285 hectares. In Thanjavur, 77 farmers are to receive a total of Rs 7.52 lakh, while in Mayiladuthurai, 17 farmers will receive a total of Rs 2.38 lakh as relief. The compensation of Rs 13,500 per hectare was announced by Chief Minister MK Stalin on October 5, 2023, in response to demands by farmers affected by the lack of Cauvery water release by Karnataka.