Farmers cultivating chillies in Marungapuri block in Tiruchi district have reported a sharp drop in yield due to drought. Marungapuri is a major production centre for chillies, which are marketed to Kerala. Every village in the block accounts for a vast area under chillies. The red loam soil is suitable for the cultivation of chillies. Marungapuri is famous for the ‘samba’ variety or long-shaped chillies. Depletion in groundwater Of the total 1,160 hectares under chillies in the district, Marungapuri block has a major share of 343 hectares. Farmers say the failure of monsoon has resulted in serious depletion of…