TIRUCHY: With farmers in the district commencing preparation for kuruvai paddy cultivation, enthused by the storage in the Mettur dam and the recent rains, the agriculture and farmers’ welfare department has also flung into action by stocking up on seeds of several short-term varieties for distribution.
While officials estimate that kuruvai cultivation will be taken up on 13,758 acres in the district this year, they express confidence of the actual acreage surpassing last year's coverage of 16,055 acres.
They attribute this to the recent episodes of rain and the current storage level of the Mettur reservoir, which is a key source of irrigation during the season. As per the IMD forecast, we expect early rains.
So, we are making arrangements to supply the required variety and volume of kuruvai paddy seeds to farmers, a senior official said.
"We are also expecting the government to announce a special kuruvai package soon. Some older varieties like ADT 36 and ASD 16, though not eligible for subsidy, are still preferred by farmers for their unique characteristics.
We are stocking those as well," the official added. Meanwhile, Joint Director of Agriculture B Vasantha told TNIE that the department has already stocked “adequate” quantity of seeds of all recommended short-term paddy varieties such as CO51, CO55, ASD 16, ASD 21, TPS 5 and ADT 36.
This apart considerable volume of fertilisers is also being stocked up for distribution to farmers, she said. "In our 14 blocks, farmers have different preference for seed varieties. Based on their choices, the department will distribute the seeds. With a favourable climate and availability of water, we are hopeful of exceeding last year's acreage," the official said.