Declare delta region as drought-hit, say farmers

The Cauvery Farmers Welfare Protection Association has decided to hoist black flags in the paddy fields, on top of farmers' houses and at T-junctions, to highlight the problem of the delta farmers who have resolved not to celebrate Pongal V Dhanapalan, general secretary of the association admitted that the large number of farmers' organisations had weakened their movement, thanks to the 'divide and rule' policy of the political parties.

With each political party having a farmer's wing, there are about a 100 farmers' associations making it difficult for the government to hold negotiations on a viable scale.