Coconut farmers in deep crisis, buy water to prevent the tree crop from withering away

TIRUPPUR

Farmers in Dharapuram-Kangayam belt have been pushed into a situation of purchasing water for saving the coconut tree crop from withering away.

Due to the failure of southwest monsoon and the uncertainty of northeast monsoon, the farmers, despite their tough financial situation, it is learnt, are not prepared to take chances.

A tanker lorry of 14,000 litres of water costs about ₹3,000, and expenditure to this extent has to be incurred per acre at least twice a week to keep the trees alive, according to a farmer in Kangayam belt.

The productivity of these tree crops is bound to be low.

The farmers in the ayacut area of PAP Main Canal are concerned over what they perceive as the absence of proper steps on the part of Water Resources Department for releasing water for two wettings for reviving the withering coconut tree crop in the second zone.

In the non-ayacut areas, the farmers purchasing water fill their dry wells and irrigate the tree crop.

During his recent roadshow, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay was apprised of the predicament of the coconut farmers by Revenue Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, and conveyed the need for according a subsidy thrust for drip-irrigation.

Due to the dry conditions, the farmers who are already grappling with a crisis are bracing themselves to cope with low productivity, Subramani, a coconut cultivator in Kundadam, said.