As per report from sources it was stated that estimated 10 lakh coconut trees have died across Tamilnadu's Salem district, farmers have said, due to the state's worst drought in 140 years. The drought has not only turned landlords into paupers, but it has also led to the migration of many farmers to cities to work as daily wage laborers.



While authorities blame it on poor monsoon and old age of trees, farmers said they are largely left to fend for themselves. Meanwhile at Kalichettiyur, Senthil Kumar's family had switched from paddy farming to coconuts in the nineties due to shortage of water. Coconut saplings take five years to yield. However, due to the drought, he has lost around 700 coconut trees. 

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Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Minister Palaniswami said that the government is taking every measure to help coconut farmers. He said "We are giving them compensation" and farmers want at least Rs 10,000 as compensation for each tree lost. 



Farmer P Jayakumar said "When we are required to cut our trees to make way for overhead power cables, we are paid Rs 25,000 for each tree" and if the government plans to give us just a few hundred rupees for each tree, they better not give us any.


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