Rain batters cultivations in Mannar

By P.A.Mark Anthony, Mannar cor.

Heavy rainfall in the Mannar district has destroyed more than 15,000 acres of paddy and vegetable cultivation, according to Agriculture Department Deputy Director M.Jeganathan. Much of the rain which fell between March 15 and 23 destroyed the crop, he said.

The paddy plants drenched by the heavy rains

He said in the Nanaddan Divisional Secretariat area 10,500 acres of the 12,700 acres of paddy cultivated were destroyed, in the Mannar DS area 1187 acres of 1400 acres of paddy were destroyed and in the Manthai West DS area 400 acres of the 538 acres were destroyed.

A total of 3500 families have been severely affected by this situation and are unable to repay the bank loans they had obtained, he said. He also said that a large portion of the vegetable crop of around 2370 acres was destroyed due to the heavy rains.

This is a double tragedy for the people who live in the Giants Tank area and were unable to engage in agriculture from 1990 to 2008 due to the unsettled security situation there. The affected farmers are from Uyilankulam, Nanaddan and Murunkan areas and they have been visiting the DS offices in these areas and begging for relief due to their sad plight. At least two suicides have been reported in this connection.

The farmers want the Government to intervene and provide them with immediate relief if they are to escape starvation and death.