In Thanjavur district, heavy and continuous rainfall has adversely affected Kuruvai paddy crops that were ready for harvest. About 1,500 acres of Kuruvai fields are waterlogged with crops submerged in standing water due to the ongoing rain.
This year, 1.99 lakh acres were cultivated during the Kuruvai season, with 1.65 lakh acres already harvested. However, in areas like Orathanadu, Thanjavur, and Ammapettai, the rain has caused damage to harvest-ready crops, forcing farmers to delay harvesting.
Farmers explained that harvesting in wet, waterlogged fields is difficult and results in crop loss. The wet conditions also increase the cost of renting harvesting machines. Due to government procurement centers not being fully operational, many farmers have postponed harvests, worsening the loss.
The farming community is urging the government to provide relief compensation for the affected crops as they face potential significant losses from the unseasonal rains.
This situation highlights the vulnerability of short-term rice crops like Kuruvai to unexpected weather events during critical harvest periods.