PMK president Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss on Wednesday said that Tamil Nadu government must provide relief and assistance to farmers cultivating mango and papaya as they are affected by intense heat wave and drought prevailing in Tamil Nadu.
The three districts – Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts – should be declared as drought affected areas and the Tamil Nadu government should provide a relief of ₹1 lakh per acre to mango and papaya farmers, he said.
In a statement, he criticised the State government for not doing enough for the struggling farmers. “Krishnagiri is considered as a capital of mangoes where almost one lakh acres are cultivated. Mangoes are cultivated extensively in Dharmapuri and Salem districts as well. Around 30 varieties of mangoes are cultivated here,” he said. Papayas are also cultivated significantly in Dharmapuri, he added.
