Latest news with #RSukumaran
New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Thanjai farmers in a spot as unseasonal heat affects availability of groundwater in TN
THANJAVUR: Farmers in parts of the district left to rely on groundwater for irrigation complain that the unseasonal hot weather conditions prevailing over the past two weeks has led to a dip in the water table, forcing them to incur additional expenses in irrigating their crops. Mentioning them too facing such inconvenience due to canal water not reaching their areas, farmers in the tail-end region demand withdrawal of the internal turn system and release water simultaneously into all branch canals of the Grand Anicut Canal (GAC). The temperature in Thanjavur has been breaching the 100 degree Fahrenheit mark for several days over the past two weeks. R Sukumaran of Kakkarai in Orathanadu said, 'Usually the temperature in July will not be this high. It would be high only during May-June.' With River Cauvery water released into the GA canal also not reaching the tail-end areas, the hot weather conditions have led to the water table to fall in Orathanadu and surrounding areas, he added. 'Adding to this there has been voltage problems. Hence we aren't able to pump enough groundwater for kuruvai paddy transplantation,' Sukumaran said, adding that transplantation work in areas like Kakkarai, Poovathur, Kannanthangudi and Tirunallar have hence been affected.
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Unseasonal rain hits straw demand, TN farmers worried
THANJAVUR: Farmers in Thanjavur district who cultivated summer paddy say the demand for straw has drastically fallen. Though harvest on nearly 45,000 acres has been largely completed, farmers say straw does not get them a good price. One of the reasons cited for the low demand is ample rains across the state and abundance of greenery. 'Very few traders are buying straw. Even those who do offer only around Rs 50 per bundle, whereas last year we got Rs 80,' said R Sukumaran, a farmer from Orathanadu. Officials said summer paddy harvest was nearing completion, adding that farmer concerns over poor straw sales were genuine. Many farmers attribute the reduced demand to the unexpected summer rains, which may have affected the storage and usability of the straw. 'In Ammapettai, the price has dropped to as low as Rs 30- Rs 35 per bundle. This is a huge drop compared to earlier years,' said R Senthilkumar, a farmer and the district deputy secretary of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association. Typically farmers get 50-60 bundles of straw per acre. 'When demand is good, we get even up to Rs 100 per bundle,' said N K Rajan, a farmer from Thanjavur. 'But this season, because of low rates, we are losing nearly Rs 3,000 per acre,' added Senthilkumar. Traders from districts like Salem and Namakkal, who once sourced straw from Thanjavur for mushroom cultivation, seem to be absent this season, another factor contributing to the slump in prices.
