Delta farmers have appealed to the state government to announce reasonable compensation for those who lost their crops in the recent rain so that they can take up pulses and oilseed cultivation.

PS Masilamani, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association affiliated to CPI, said thousands of acres of samba paddy in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts have been affected.

"As the rainwater has not receded even now, crops that are ready for harvest have remained under water. The Union government should release fund to help the affected people and farmers.

The chief minister should announce a reasonable compensation to the affected farmers. That would helpful them raise pulses and oil seeds during the summer to compensate for the loss," Masilamani added. Meanwhile, environment minister S V Meyyanathan inspected submerged fields in Mayiladuthurai district on Wednesday along with district collector M P Mahabharathi.

He told reporters later that thaladi paddy crop raised on 18,000 acres and oilseed cultivated on about 1,000 acres were damaged by rain. Officials have been asked to enumerate the affected fields.

"Based on the report submitted by officials, the chief minister will announce compensation," he said.

Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com