TIRUCHY: Even as the Kuruvai (short term) and Samba (long term) paddy cultivation failed to support farmers due to monsoon failure and the absence of canal-based irrigation, those who up farming black gram are reporting bumper yields.
With the harvest completed in a majority of the blocks cultivated with the pulse crop, summer showers which sporadically lashed the district are said to have led to positive results in the desired growth of black gram. The average yield has been from 300 kg to 400 kg per acre.
Since the pulse crop requires minimal water for irrigation, farmers in Cauvery delta blocks of the district, including Lalgudi, Pullambadi, Manachanallur, Tiruverumbur, and Musiri, took up black gram cultivation over 421 hectares extensively.
Though farmers initially struggled due to depleting groundwater, the pulse crop, with a 70-day cycle, received timely watering from summer showers between late April and early May.
“Our biometric observation, which includes plant population over a sq. metre of land and grain inspections, shows standing black gram cultivation in Manachanallur block would post 400 kg as yield per acre. Unlike paddy, black gram watering needs were met with timely and sporadic showers,” R Mohankumar, Assistant Director of Agriculture, said.
Even as some harvesting would be completed in another week in Manachanallur block, the process has been completed in Lalgudi. Apart from Lalgudi, paddy fields that underwent black gram cultivation in Kodiyalam, Thiruvalarsolai and Uthamarseeli villages have posted yields of 300 kg to 400 kg per acre.
Since the villages are located along the banks of Cauvery and a few over the Kollidam River, adequate groundwater was said to have helped the crops.
“As an initial price, we are offered Rs 75-85 per kg by traders due to low demands. We expect price of black gram to reach Rs 100 per kg in July as Delta villages did not go for extensive cultivation of black gram, citing heavy drought.” S Saravanakumar, a Tiruchy-based black gram farmer said.