Tamil Nadu farmers face heavy losses as rain deficit threatens Vadamalli crop

A prolonged dry spell and weak monsoon rains have left Vadamalli (globe amaranth) farmers in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, confronting severe crop stress. More than 500 acres across the villages of Vadivelampalayam, Mugasimangalam, Molapalayam and Kalimangalam rely on rain‑fed cultivation for the lucrative Onam flower market, but the lack of summer showers and inadequate southwest monsoon rainfall has caused plants to wither.

Farmers report that each acre costs about Rs 30,000 for inputs and fear that the moisture deficit could wipe out their investment. R. Karthikeyan said, “We were expecting at least a few spells of monsoon rain by now, but the fields have remained dry for weeks… many may not survive unless we receive rain immediately.” Drought‑induced wildlife behavior has added damage, with wild boars entering fields, noted S. Manikandan. The water shortage has also harmed maize, toor dal, broad beans and pumpkin crops.

With the expected decline in flower yields, growers warn that Coimbatore’s Onam flower arrivals could fall sharply, potentially driving up market prices. They have appealed to the Tamil Nadu government for damage assessment and compensation, especially for small and marginal farmers whose livelihoods are at stake.