Due to a prolonged dry spell in Pollachi and surrounding areas, groundwater levels have dropped, and wells have dried up, severely impacting coconut cultivation and distressing the farmers.
Coimbatore: Pollachi, often referred to as the 'Coconut City' of Tamil Nadu, is facing a severe agricultural crisis. The primary crop, coconut, is suffering due to various adversities including Kerala Root Wilt disease and pest attacks that have plagued the region for some time. However, the recent months have brought an unprecedented challenge with an acute shortage of rainfall leading to severe drought conditions in Pollachi and its neighboring regions like Anaimalai, Vadakkipalayam, and Pakkothipalayam.
The paucity of rain has resulted in wells running dry and the groundwater level sinking below 2,000 feet, which poses a severe struggle for irrigation, leaving farmers in distress. Dried up wells and a significant drop in the groundwater table have made water resources scarce, hindering the irrigation of coconut trees which are now resembling skeletal figures, a sight that compounds the farmers' agony.
Some farmers have resorted to purchasing water at high costs to sustain their coconut trees, yet the scorching heat continues to have a devastating effect on the crop. The dire situation has led them to appeal to the Tamil Nadu government to provide relief and support to coconut farmers to mitigate their hardships.
The paucity of rain has resulted in wells running dry and the groundwater level sinking below 2,000 feet, which poses a severe struggle for irrigation, leaving farmers in distress. Dried up wells and a significant drop in the groundwater table have made water resources scarce, hindering the irrigation of coconut trees which are now resembling skeletal figures, a sight that compounds the farmers' agony.
Some farmers have resorted to purchasing water at high costs to sustain their coconut trees, yet the scorching heat continues to have a devastating effect on the crop. The dire situation has led them to appeal to the Tamil Nadu government to provide relief and support to coconut farmers to mitigate their hardships.