CHENNAI: With transplantation of samba crops in delta districts almost over, farmers are expecting a better yield this year.

Efficient regulation of floodwaters from the Mettur dam has helped minimise crop damage, say officials.

The farmers had feared that the continuous rain, coupled with the heavy discharge from the dam, would hit standing crop. But, by diverting most of the floodwaters into the Coleroon and releasing just 15,000-20,000 cusecs into the Cauvery, this was pre-empted.

Water release

Normally, in the delta districts, 2.074 lakh hectares are brought under kuruvai and 5.552 lakh hectares under samba, including 1.770 lakh hectares under thaladi (late samba). This year, only 56,000 hectares could be brought under kuruvai owing to non-release of water from the Mettur dam.

Later, thanks to the timely water release, the farmers raised samba nurseries.

In Thanjavur district, transplantation is over in 90 per cent of the area, except in tail-end areas such as Peravurani. Usually, 1.005 lakh hectares are brought under samba. This year, thanks to the water release, 1.258 lakh hectares were covered. An official said there were no reports of pest attack.

The administration had adequate stock of pesticides. The kuruvai harvest was over. The average yield was five tonnes a hectare.

In Nagapattinam district, one lakh hectares were brought under samba, as against the normal 1.2 lakh hectares.

Direct sowing was adopted in 50,000 hectares and conventional method in the rest. Transplantation was on in 10,000 hectares. Another 23,000 hectares, where kuruvai could not be raised, would be brought under samba.

A majority of farmers had gone in for short-term crop, which would be harvested, if the rain gods obliged, in the coming weeks.

Kuruvai yield

As for kuruvai, an Agriculture Department official said the average yield was 4.4 tonnes a hectare. While some farmers reaped 6 tonnes, in the tail-end areas, the yield was less than two tonnes. Samba transplantation would be completed in a week in Tiruvarur district.

The administration planned to bring 1.43 lakh hectares under samba this year, including 8,500 hectares under thaladi. Direct sowing was done on 22,440 hectares.

In the other delta taluks of Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Karur, Perambalur and Pudukottai, 90,000 hectares would be brought under cultivation.

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