Chennai: Koyambedu market, one of the largest wholesale markets in South Asia dealing with vegetables and fruits, has lost its Pongal fervour and sales this year.
Traders and farmers, under severe cash crunch, complain that the harvest season this January had been disastrous. Poor farm yield due to the failure of northeast monsoon and a few takers for the farm products have adversely affected our livelihood, admit traders and farmers now visiting Koyambedu.
“All rabi crops in Tamil Nadu have failed due to deficit monsoon, but some of us managed to save our crops using groundwater. Sugarcane farmers are facing severe stress as the dividends are worse this season”, said J. Radhakrishnan, a farmer from Villupuram.
“I brought two loads of sugarcane to be sold at Koyambedu market on Sunday and after two days, I am leaving the market with a heavy heart as I sold the sugar cane for a throw away price on Monday,” said S. Selvaraj, a farmer from Cuddalore.
“Rice is major constituent accounting for 70 to 80 per cent of the total food grain production in TN. Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Villupuram have taken a massive beating when it comes to paddy cultivation,” said a senior official with state agriculture department.
Pointing out that paddy cultivation has dipped by 25 per cent in north and western Tamil Nadu. The deficit rainfall had also affected the horticulture and vegetable crops endemic to Kodaikanal, Nilgiris, Theni and Erode districts, the official said adding corn and tapioca farming in Tuticorin and Tiruppur had also withered due to water shortage.
Besides the monsoon failure update, revenue officials with Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts have also submitted a report to the state informing about the damages to plantain and paddy crop due to cyclone Vardah.
“We have briefed the central team on the damages to our electricity network and farmlands due to cyclone Vardah. Restoration of electricity network and compensation to our farmers are main demands to the centre,” said commissioner of revenue administration and disaster management K. Satyagopal.
