In the Ilayangudi taluk, including villages like Sooranam, Munaivendri, and Saalaikiramam, more than 60 villages are facing a severe water shortage, causing paddy crops to wither during the crucial grain-setting stage. Farmers in these areas had been relying on the seasonal rains during the northeast monsoon to water their fields. They began their agricultural activities using the limited water collected in irrigation tanks but are now facing crop failures due to a lack of water in these tanks.
One of the local farmers, Panneer from Soothukudi, shared that despite investing around Rs. 30,000 per acre for land preparation, sowing seeds, and fertilizing, the crops are drying up due to the insufficient water supply. The situation has resulted in a significant loss, and the risk of crop damage is high this year.
The Statistical Department had already assessed the water shortage, and local farmers are now urging the district administration to step in and provide necessary relief to avoid further agricultural losses. The lack of water resources during a critical period for paddy cultivation has left the farmers in a dire situation.
