AIADMK interim general secretary and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami urged the DMK government to provide adequate compensation to Delta farmers, who incurred kuruvai crop loss due to recent rains.

Claiming that kuruvai, which were ready for harvest, were lost in more than one lakh acres due to heavy rains in the Delta regions such as Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Myladuthurai, he said, in addition, several thousand acres of agriculture lands were also flooded in other parts of the state.

Stating that the farmers, who have spent more money on purchasing fertilizers, were severely affected after their crops were submerged due to rain. “They have also demanded immediate assessment of the damaged crops and to provide compensation of Rs 35,000 per acre. In addition, the farmers have asked their respective collectors to immediately open all government paddy storage units,” he said adding “they were also demanding the government to purchase the paddy crops, which are 22 per cent moisture content.”

Palaniswami said, however, the state government is claiming that the Union government did not permit to purchase of paddy crops that have high moisture content. “Therefore, the government should get permission from the Centre and immediately purchase those crops, which have 22 per cent moisture content and pay the farmers adequately.”

“As the government did not purchase the paddy crops, the farmers, who were desperately in need of money, were forced to sell 60 kg paddy for just between Rs 150 and Rs 200,” he said adding, “the farmers also blame that except for AST 16 type of paddy, other varieties could not be sold.”

As the government did not purchase the paddy crops, the farmers, who were As the