Heavy rain from the northeast monsoon and Cyclone Ditwah has left a significant share of paddy fields inundated in Nagapattinam district, Collector P. Akash has said.
In a press release, he said of the 51,592.858 hectares under samba and thaladi cultivation this season, a preliminary report had pegged 22,821.98 hectares as submerged. Acting on the Chief Minister’s directions, flood-monitoring committees had been formed at the district and taluk levels. Joint teams of Agriculture and Revenue Department officials are inspecting affected fields, and compensation would be recommended wherever crop damage exceeded 33% as per government norms.
Issuing a crop management advisory, the Collector urged farmers to drain excess water from fields without delay by cutting or clearing drainage channels around the crop. During the wet spell, they should avoid applying fertilizers, spraying pesticides or using weedicides, and instead closely monitor pest and disease incidence, resorting to plant protection only when it crossed the economic threshold.
Where yellowing and nutrient deficiency were seen, farmers had been advised to spray a solution prepared by mixing 2 kg of urea and 1 kg of zinc sulphate in 200 litres of water, and to provide about 25% additional nitrogen and potash as top dressing to flood-affected crops on the advice of field officers. Field bunds should be kept clean, green manure crops encouraged and chemical fertilizers used strictly at recommended doses.
With the northeast monsoon expected to last till the end of December, Mr. Akash asked farmers to promptly inform local Agriculture officials of any fresh damage and obtain technical guidance.
For horticultural crops, he advised earthing up around plants and trees, staking and propping, and reducing crown load in perennial crops like coconut where necessary. Owners of polyhouses, shade-net houses and solar pump systems had been asked to secure structures firmly and protect panels and electric fencing during intense weather.
Published – December 03, 2025 05:39 pm IST
