Coimbatore, July 2: Farmers in Vadamalai, located in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, are struggling to save their crops due to prolonged dry spells. Large sections of flowering plants in the Thondamuthur block have started to wither.
Local farmers report that insufficient rainfall during the summer, followed by a weak southwest monsoon, has led to a significant water shortage. This has adversely affected crops planted for the profitable Onam market.
In villages such as Vadivelampalayam, Mugasingalum, Molapalayam, and Kalimangalum, over 500 acres are dedicated to growing Vadamalai (Gomphrena globosa, commonly known as globe amaranth). This crop takes about 150 days to mature, with flowers appearing after approximately 120 days. It is cultivated extensively to meet the festive demand in Kerala during Onam. Although it requires less irrigation compared to many commercial crops, farmers state that the current moisture deficit has pushed the plants to the brink of collapse.
Farmer R. Karthikeyan from Vadivelampalayam shared, “Initially, the crop was thriving, but the ongoing dry weather has caused it to deteriorate. We expected some rainfall by now, but the fields have been dry for a week. The plants weaken daily, and if it doesn’t rain soon, many may not survive.”
According to farmers, the cost of cultivating Vadamalai is approximately ₹30,000 per acre, which includes expenses for land preparation, seeds, labor, and other necessities. Due to the lack of reliable irrigation facilities in many parts of the block, farmers fear that if the weather does not improve soon, they may not even recover their costs.
Another farmer from the area, S. Manikandan, noted that the drought has altered the behavior of wild animals. He stated, “Wild boars usually stay away from this crop, but due to a lack of food in nearby forests, they have come into our fields. They are damaging the already weakened plants, increasing our losses.”
Farmers also report that the insufficient rainfall has harmed other crops in the region, including maize, pigeon peas, beans, and pumpkins.
With a significant drop in expected production, producers believe that the supply of flowers from Coimbatore during the Onam season may decline, leading to increased prices in the market.
They have appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to assess the crop losses and announce compensation, especially for small and marginal farmers whose livelihoods have been severely affected by the ongoing lack of rainfall.
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