The Hindu Business Line : Rains damage cotton kapas

Coimbatore, Jan. 8 Cotton kapas weighing 23000 quintals and valued at Rs 51 crore is said to have been damaged due to torrential rains in Villupuram, Cuddalore and Salem districts.

Farm varsity scientists, who visited select fields in the taluks of Kallakurichi, Sankarapuram, Chinnasalem, Thiagadurgam, Rishivanthiyam, Ulundurpettai, Tiruvennainallur and Mugaiyur in Villupuram district, Thittakudi in Cuddalore district and Athur, Gangavalli, Thalaivasal, Peddanaickenpalayam and Vazhapadi in Salem district observed that torrential rains caused extensive damage to the Bt cotton seed production fields.

The yield loss due to magnesium deficiency and severe lodging of bolls (unopened, boll rot and boll shedding) is estimated at over 70 per cent.

The scientists’ assessment of the damage has revealed that about 12,000 farmers have been affected and cotton crop raised in 9,000 acres in the three districts have been lost.

According to the Tamil Nadu Seed Association, a team of scientists from TNAU had, under the directions of Commissioner of Agriculture, Chennai visited the affected fields and assessed the seed yield loss.

The Association has submitted a memorandum to the State Government requesting a compensation of Rs 40,000/acre.

More Stories on : Cotton | Natural Calamities | Tamil Nadu

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