Madurai sugarcane crops face threat from irrigation crisis

Approximately 4,000 acres of sugarcane cultivation in the Melur and Vadipatti areas of Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, are facing significant threats due to an irrigation crisis. The shortage of water has caused irrigation wells to dry up, forcing farmers to rely heavily on borewells. Farmers warn that if adequate rainfall does not occur within the next three weeks, standing crops—including 1,500 acres of green sugarcane and the remaining purple sugarcane—could wither and die.

In addition to the water scarcity, local farmers are protesting the prolonged closure of the Alanganallur National Cooperative Sugar Mill. The Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers Association reports that the mill has remained closed for over eight years despite repeated protests. The absence of this facility has deprived growers of a dependable procurement and marketing channel, contributing to a decline in sugarcane cultivation in the region. Farmers are calling on the government to allocate funds to revive the mill and address the immediate water shortage.