Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Paddy cultivation: Madurai district crosses its target

S. Sundar

Harvesting of first crop almost over in 95 per cent of the area

MADURAI: Madurai district is poised for a surplus harvest of paddy this year, thanks to heavy showers and assured regular supply of impounded water.

As against the target of 70,000 hectares of paddy cultivation in the district, farmers have achieved a total coverage of 71,000 hectares this year. Last year, the district fell 10,000 hectares short of its target. It was worse during previous years due to drought.

Delayed beginning

Though the commencement of cultivation was delayed for nearly three months due to want of water, subsequently, the storage kept rising throughout the agricultural operation. The dams - both the Periyar and the Vaigai - had enough storage.

The district received 350 mm of additional rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 874 mm, the Joint Director (Agriculture) (in-charge), S. Tirugnanam said.

Tanks up to brim

Consequently, all rainfed tanks were up to the brim for most days of the season. "The storage ensured that sufficient quantity of water reached even tailend areas," he said.

This encouraged more farmers to go in for cultivation, though many ryots had left their land unploughed in the past due to lingering doubts of water shortage. More than the coverage of cultivation, the higher yield has also brought good fortune to the district, which has registered an average yield of five tonnes per hectare. Harvesting of the first crop in the district is almost over in 95 per cent of the area. It is going on in full swing in rest of the area.

In sharp contrast to the experience of past five years, when dams were rendered almost dry, this year, even after a good harvest, the storage position remained encouraging and the ryots had gone in for a second crop in around 4000 hectares, Mr. Tirugnanam said. The combined Periyar credit stood at 6283 mcft as against 1092 mcft last year.

The Public Works Department has assured water supply for irrigation till March-end. The standing crop is in different stages. In some areas, it is 30-40 days old. "In some areas, farmers, helped by well irrigation, are still carrying out the initial work," he added.

Water level

The water level in the Periyar dam stood at 127.8 feet with an inflow of 112 cusecs and a discharge of 600 cusecs. The level in the Vaigai dam was 66.70 feet with an inflow of 367 cusecs and a discharge of 41 cusecs.

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