‘Set up a coastal saline research institute at Peravurani’

The East Coast Coconut Farmers’ Association has called upon the State government to set up a coastal saline research institute at Peravurani for the benefit of coconut and other crop cultivators in the region.

In a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the association said total dissolved solids in the groundwater had crossed the prescribed mark due to seawater intrusion in the area and due to change in climatic conditions. Thus, the cultivation of crops such as coconut, which is the main cultivation activity in and around Peravurani, paddy, groundnut, black gram, sugarcane, and banana were affected.

Hence, the association exhorted the Tamil Nadu to set up a research institute at Peravurani to assess the TDS in groundwater and suggest suitable crops / modifications in cultivation process for the sustenance of the livelihood activities of this region.

Plea for irrigation

Meanwhile, paddy farmers have urged the State government to provide surface water irrigation support to the thaladi crop raised by them in the Delta region. In a memorandum to the authorities, a progressive farmer, G. Srinivasan of Ganapathi Agraharam, Papanasam tahluk, Thanjavur district, pointed out that the thaladi crop, which is in flowering stage, is badly in need of irrigation till February 15.