There Isn바카라�t Even A Straw Left

The farmers in Tamil Nadu are a community who pray for rains in their neighbouring state as well. It바카라�s an annual plea to god바카라�and not exactly inspired by altr­uism. For, only a bountiful southwest monsoon can fill up Karnataka바카라�s reservoirs along the Cauvery that feeds the sprawling rice fields eastward, across the border downstream. Today, Tamil Nadu faces its worst agriculture scenario in recent times: the rains were scantiest in 120 years when Karnataka, too, is facing a dry year. With very little Cauvery water from its riparian neighbour and even less from the skies, 2016-17 is proving to be Tamil Nadu바카라�s most barren year in over a century.

There is deep worry among the ryots in the fertile belt comprising the middle districts of Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam that grow 16 lakh acres of rice. 바카라�If only Karna­taka reservoirs are on the brim can paddy cultivation flourish in our state,바카라� points out Mannargudi S. Ranganathan of the Cauvery Delta Farmers Association. The area needs 330 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of ­water for a rice-growing year. 바카라�A decent northeast monsoon (in November-­December) ensures a good double crop. In 2016, both failed us.바카라�

In fact, this year, rains did not cross even 50 tmcft. 바카라�That is how bad it was,바카라� Rangananthan observes. 바카라�The cla­yey soil permits just paddy. That rules out other short-term cash crops.바카라� The situa­tion worsens in the tail-end areas of Nagpa­ttinam and Thiruvarur, just before the river바카라�s distributaries merge with the Bay of Bengal. This year, ­salinity has made farther inroads in the absence of fresh Cauvery water to soak up the farmlands.

In this battle of distress, it is the far­mer who has paid the price바카라�often with his life. Two-thirds of the 59 suicides rep­orted in the state in 2016 due to failed crop has been in Nagpattinam district. The TN Farmers바카라� Union says the gover­nment initially acknowledged 17 suici­des by farmers and gave each bere­aved family a compensation of Rs 3 lakh. 바카라�The remaining, too, did get ex-gratia바카라�but without a public disclosure that they were farmer suicides,바카라� says P.R. Pandian of the union. 바카라�We have to wage a long and continuous battle for farm rights.바카라�

The state government says its 바카라�strong바카라� track record in implementing drought relief and 바카라�massive rollout바카라� of the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana have helped mitigate the impact of the disaster. 바카라�A record number of 15.32 lakh farmers were enrolled in the current rabi season, covering 32.22 lakh acres so far,바카라� acc­ording to an official spokesman. 바카라�The coverage of farmers and area under crop insurance in Tamil Nadu have been among the highest in the country.바카라�

The farmers aren바카라�t convinced. 바카라�The coverage might be high and the intent might be good, but on the ground is the farmer able to get his money when a crop fails?바카라� says Pandian. 바카라�Most farmers have not received even last year바카라�s compensation. When it is companies바카라�private and public-sector바카라�that implement an insurance scheme, what is the motive? It is to increase business, collect premiums, right? They won바카라�t compensate in time when the actual loss happens!바카라� He feels the scheme will be treated like ­motor vehi­cle insurance. 바카라�Unless a government age­ncy is directly involved, this will not be viewed as a service.바카라�

A senior government officer suggests that the Centre should instruct at least the PSU companies to pay the crop INS­urance amount within 30 days of crop-­cutting experiment바카라�to prove to the agent that the crop has actually failed to yield any produce. 바카라�Only if the farmers get the insurance money in time can they use it for the next sowing season,바카라� he points out. 바카라�The government anno­unced drought relief totalling Rs 2,447 crore in January. By March, the amount was deposited in the bank accounts.바카라�

Farmers associations have pointed out that unlike in the past, when only rice-sowing used to be hit, this year even long-term crops like coconut, ban­ana, sugarcane have suffered바카라�for, 21 of Tamil Nadu바카라�s 32 districts faced a 60 per cent rain deficiency. 바카라�Even rubber plantations in the south have been crippled and so has turmeric cultivation in Erode district,바카라� concedes a senior government officer. 바카라�This drought has hit a wider swathe and virtually every kind of crop.바카라�

For the average farmer, more than the loss of crops, what hurts is the erosion in pride over his inability to repay farm loans. 바카라�Farming rides a lot on hope바카라�hope for good rains at the right time and hope for a good market dem­and,바카라� points out Veera Pandi, a paddy farmer in Sirkali, which is also drought-hit. 바카라�Once that hope crumbles, the farmer feels crushed in body and spirit. Our pride also dies.바카라�

By G.C. Shekhar in Chennai