In the towns of Vengur and Pazhanganankudi in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchi district, about 500 acres of samba paddy have suddenly turned brown and died. Farmers who grew the crop on the Thiruverumbur block are now worried that contaminated irrigation water may be the culprit.
The Tamil Nadu Agriculture Department and the state Pollution Control Board are stepping in. An initial look by experts says that chemicals in the water could explain the sudden withering of the CR 1009 variety, which farmers in Thiruverumbur favor because of its resistance to pests like leaf folder, stem borer, blast and sheath rot. The field inspectors from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Sirugamani have taken soil and water samples and will prepare a detailed report.
“Water pollution seems to be the main suspect,” a senior department official told reporters. “But we can’t rule out natural soil or weather factors just yet.” A meeting of farmers is slated for Monday to review the findings and plan recovery steps.
Vayalur N. Rajendran, treasurer of the Tamil Manila Congress’s farmers’ wing, warned that officials must trace where the polluted water entered the irrigation network and act quickly. “If we do nothing now, we risk another round of losses,” he urged.
The investigation will involve the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, which will likely conduct its own probe. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University keeps advising growers to use high‑yielding varieties such as TRY‑3 and CO (R) 50, alongside CR 1009, across the district’s paddy blocks—including Lalgudi, Mannachanallur, Anthanallur, and more.
For farmers, this is a stark reminder that the health of the irrigation system is as vital as the seeds themselves. If contamination spreads, the entire 500‑acre area could suffer severe damage in the coming months.
Source: ianslive
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