Abstract

Korai is one of the few crops that can profitably be grown on heavy clay soils, deficient in drainage and consequently regarded as unfit for cultivation. Low-lying lands below tanks and also swampy and saline lands could successfully be planted with this crop. The culms of this grass, supply raw material for the manufac- ture of mats, so commonly in use in almost every Indian household. The cultivation of this crop in India is however limited to a few places in the Bengal and Madras Presidencies. In the District of North Arcot. there is a fairly large area under this crop in Cheyyar and Wandiwash Taluks, the villages of Vadanangur in Cheyyar Taluk and Tennangur in Wandiwash Taluk contributing the largest portion. In recent years the area has considerably decreased due to scarcity of water. Though the industry has to some extent suffered in common with others in the general trade depression, it has however not been so much affected since it is not influenced by the fluctuations of foreign markets.

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