THANJAVUR, TIRUVARUR : With discharge from Mettur dam down to a trickle and the northeast monsoon playing truant, farmers say the prospects for samba are not bright. As such, the moderate rain recorded across delta districts on Thursday night is seen as a god-send to infuse life into the withering crop.
Mannargudi S Renganathan, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Association, said the delta received scanty rainfall during the just-ended Iypassi, the Tamil month when northeast monsoon is supposed to peak. Tiruvarur district experienced good rains for only three days, while Thanjavur district recorded moderate rain for three days in November so far.
According to Indian Metrological Department, from October 1 to November 18, Thanjavur recorded an average rainfall of 136 mm as against the normal of 325 mm, signifying 58% shortfall. Similarly, in Tiruvarur district, only 156 mm average rainfall was recorded in this period so far, when the normal is 389 mm, signifying a 60% shortfall.
Around 10 to 11 lakh acres are estimated to have been brought under samba, thalady crop in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagappattinam. “Of the total area, crop raised with ground water in around 3 lakh acres are in a relatively good condition,” Renganathan added. Though there is hope that this crop could be saved, farmers are worried about the fate of the crop transplanted with canal irrigation and cultivated through direct sowing method. The directly sown crop in various stages need water for another 70-90 days.
K Mayilvahanan, Joint Director of Agriculture, Tiruvarur, has advised farmers to take up de-weeding utilising the rains.