Failure of northeast monsoon and the prevailing hot weather has hit the growth of tapioca crop at Pachamalai, a low range mountains along the Eastern Ghats, in the district.
Tapioca cultivation has been the main source of livelihood to farmers of Pachamalai, a majority of them tribal people, for decades, and the red loam soil and the moisture content in it have been facilitating the growth of tapioca. The mushroom growth of sago industries in Salem and Athur down the hills has been giving assured returns to farmers.
According to sources, about 7,000 acres of land was brought under the tapioca cultivation this season. The crops, which were planted in the Tamil month of Aadi, are just a month away from harvest. However, the health of the crops had been hit because of the failure of northeast monsoon and summer showers.
