Rain deficit leaves TN's Vadamalli farmers staring at heavy losses ahead of Onam
Coimbatore, July 2
A prolonged dry spell and the failure of seasonal rains have left Vadamalli farmers in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district struggling to save their crop, with large stretches of flowering plants beginning to wither across Thondamuthur Block.
Farmers in the region, who traditionally depend on rain-fed cultivation, say the absence of adequate summer showers followed by weak southwest monsoon rainfall has created an acute water shortage, severely affecting crops that were planted for the lucrative Onam market.
More than 500 acres of Vadamalli (Gomphrena globosa, commonly known as globe amaranth) have been cultivated across the villages of Vadivelampalayam, Mugasimangalam, Molapalayam and Kalimangalam. The crop, which has a cultivation period of around 150 days and starts yielding flowers after about 120 days, is widely grown for festive demand in Kerala during the Onam season. Though it requires comparatively less irrigation than many commercial crops, farmers say the current moisture stress has pushed the plants to the brink.
R. Karthikeyan, a farmer from Vadivelampalayam, said the crop had shown healthy growth initially but began drying up after continuous dry weather. "We were expecting at least a few spells of monsoon rain by now, but the fields have remained dry for weeks. The plants are losing vigour every day, and many may not survive unless we receive rain immediately," he said.
According to farmers, the cost of cultivating Vadamalli is around Rs 30,000 per acre, covering land preparation, seeds, labour and other inputs. With no assured irrigation facilities in many parts of the block, growers fear they may not even recover their investment if the weather does not improve soon.
S. Manikandan, another cultivator from the area, said the drought had also altered the behaviour of wild animals. "Wild boars usually stay away from this crop, but the lack of food and water in nearby forest areas has driven them into our fields. They have started damaging the already weakened plants, adding to our losses," he said.
The impact of the dry spell is not limited to Vadamalli. Farmers say maize, toor dal, broad beans and pumpkin crops grown in the region have also suffered due to inadequate rainfall.
With production expected to decline sharply, growers believe flower arrivals from Coimbatore could fall significantly during the Onam season, potentially pushing up market prices.
They have urged the Tamil Nadu government to assess the crop damage and announce compensation, particularly for small and marginal farmers whose livelihoods have been severely affected by the prolonged rain deficit.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's not just about the flowers - maize, toor dal, and other crops are also failing. The entire food supply chain in that region will be affected. We talk so much about Atmanirbhar Bharat but when our farmers face such natural disasters, where is the support? Need concrete action, not just statements.
Sad to see traditional cultivation practices being hit so hard by climate variability. The monsoon patterns have become so unpredictable. ₹30,000 per acre investment with no assured irrigation is a huge risk. I hope the Tamil Nadu government responds quickly with relief measures.
My grandmother used to say Vadamalli flowers are a must for Onam pookalam, but every year it's getting harder to find good quality ones. This article explains why. And now wild boars damaging the crops too! What a tragedy for these hardworking farmers. 😢
One thing I don't understand - why are farmers still relying solely on rain-fed cultivation in 2024? The government should have provided better irrigation infrastructure years ago. Vadamalli is a cash crop for Onam, this should have been prioritized. But yes, immediate compensation is needed now.
Interesting to learn about Vadamalli cultivation. In Australia we don't have such traditional flower markets tied to festivals. But the human story is universal - farmers everywhere suffer when rains fail. Hope the Onam spirit brings some relief to these families. 🙏
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