Rains in TN hit tapioca crop

Torrential rains have hit agriculture in Tamil Nadu hard. Especially the tapioca farmers in and around Salem district, who have been on the receiving end of nature's fury.

Sources say rains will also have a negative impact on the sago and starch processing units in the region. Tapioca is a vital ingredient in the production of Sago.

Out the total 82,000 hectare of area under tapioca cultivation in Tamil Nadu, Salem district is home to 34,000 hectare. And of the 800-odd tapioca processing units in the state, Salem district accounts for around 450.

According to G Venkatraman, assistant director, department of horticulture, government of Tamil Nadu that the anticipated yield loss is worth Rs 307.47 lakh. He added: "Out of an area of 9,533 hectare survyed in the district, over 683.25 hectares has been declared damaged."

Fearing that roots of the tapioca crop would decay in stagnant waters, farmers resorted to selling of the prematurely harvested tuber "� which is low on starch content. And this distress sale is causing substantial losses to farmers, who are selling their produce at a fraction of the price undamaged crops would realise.

Much like sugarcane, tapioca should be crushed within 24 hours of harvest. Normally, undamaged tubers have 30 points of starch, but these prematurely harvested tubers contain just 15 - 20 points. Sago & starch units benchmark quality of the tapioca produce by its starch content.

A highly placed official from Sagoserve cooperative told Business Standard that around 10 to 15 per cent of the crops under cultivation have been affected due to rains. "This will definitely hit the production of sago," the source added.