Farmers dare to go in for kuruvai

With Mettur dam not opening on June 12, the scheduled date, agriculturists are forced todepend on borewells and filter points for water

June 15, 2015 12:00 am | Updated October 02, 2016 07:43 pm IST

ndaunted by the uncertainty over adequate water supply for their paddy crop, farmers in the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam have gone in for kuruvai.

With Mettur dam not releasing water on the scheduled date (June 12), farmers pin their hopes on borewells and the 12-hour power supply assured by the State government to see through the season. It is only the filter points and borewells that give hope and sustain the kuruvai crop in the delta in the absence of Mettur dam water.

The State government’s kuruvai package could provide them just the auxiliary crutches.

The three districts provide the bulk of food grain requirement of Tamil Nadu, with Tiruvarur district accounting for 10 per cent of the total contribution across all seasons. With three crops or even twin crop consigned to history in most areas, farmers in the region peg their hope on kuruvai paddy as this season enjoys “better planning factors” than samba or thalady or summer paddy crop as the case was.

The best year for kuruvai in the recent past was 2011-12 when water flowed down the Cauvery to assist in paddy cultivation a big way. That year, the coverage area peaked in the three districts and the productivity was very good. In Nagapattinam district, where kuruvai is taken up early, transplanting is nearing completion in the target coverage area of 28,000 hectares. Nurseries were raised in May itself and transplanting has covered 25,300 ha.

In 2011-12, a total of 32,300 ha were brought under kuruvai and the area gradually increased after hitting a record low of 15,500 ha the next year to touch 17,200 ha in 2013-14 and shoot up to 27,400 ha last year.

In Tiruvarur district, where only farmers who have borewells dared to take up kuruvai, coverage is expected to be 26,000 ha this season. Transplantation has been completed on just 2,500 ha with nurseries to cover another 3,000 ha.

In the days to come, more regions would see nursery beds being established to cover the target area, say the officials. Here, the kuruvai season is from June to mid-October and the coverage area would be met in the weeks ahead.

In 2011-12, the maximum coverage under kuruvai peaked at 39,200 ha, but dropped to 13,400 ha the very next year. It rose to 18,600 ha in 2013-14 and then to 25,900 ha during last season.

“We need to think pragmatically. In the absence of Mettur dam water, we are pinning our hopes on the assured 12-hour three-phase power supply and the kuruvai package by the State government to see kuruvai through,” points out S. Durairaj of Kamalapuram in Tiruvarur district.

New variety

There are 21,000 borewells in the district that would possibly sustain the crop. This year, a new paddy variety CO-51 is gaining currency among the farmers here.

In Thanjavur district, the Agriculture Department aims to cover 32,000 ha and transplanting has been completed on 7,350 ha. Nurseries are ready to cover another 10,000 ha, while field preparations are under way to raise nurseries for another 15,000 ha.

Like other delta districts, the peak coverage was in 2011-12 when 40,000 ha came under kuruvai, but it dropped to 21,650 ha in 2012-13, rose to 28,300 ha the next season and touched 31,800 ha during 2014-15. Last season, the authorities procured two lakh tonnes paddy from farmers in the district during the kuruvai season.

“Power supply essential for borewell operation was bad last week but has improved considerably now. If the State government kept its promise announced in the package, then we might make a game of it,” says S. Nadarajan of Kasanadupudur near here. Some rain at this hour would be big boost to the farmers.

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