Tamil Nadu - Nagapattinam   

Samba paddy crops in good condition

NAGAPATTINAM: Standing samba and thaladi paddy crops raised in Cauvery delta region of Nagapattinam district was in good condition and the moderate widespread rain in the last two days came as a boon to the crop.

However, leaf roller pest attack was spotted in some pockets in the district.

P. R.Vaithiyanathan, Joint Director of Agriculture, Nagapattinam, said on Tuesday that the samba paddy crop had been raised on the normal cultivation area of 1.02 lakh hectare.

Besides, nearly 5,000 hectares short-term kuruvai paddy crop area that was skipped in Vennar River Division area due to delay in receipt of Mettur water for irrigation was also cultivated with samba paddy crop this year.

The thaladi paddy crop, being raised as the second crop in the kuruvai area has been covered on about 25,000 hectares.

A total of 1.32 lakh hectares of paddy crop will come up for harvest from the beginning of January especially in the Mayiladuturai region where the farmers had planted the crop well in advance.

Mr. Vaithiyanathan said that the paddy crops on about 30,000 acres that were submerged in Sirkazhi and Mayiladuturai area in the heavy rain last month had now recovered fully due to quick recession of water.

The standing paddy crops - both transplanted and direct-sown - are in good condition in the district.

He said that the Agriculture Department had advised the farmers to take steps against pest attack immediately.

He said that the extension officials of the Agriculture Department were also guiding the farmers about the timely application of fertilizers, pesticides, etc.

Nearly 35 per cent of the farmers in the district have switched over to the latest system of rice intensification method of paddy cultivation in the district this year as the cost of cultivation is reduced by nearly 30 per cent than the traditional method of transplantation method of cultivation, he said.

Majority of farmers in the district have cultivated several paddy varieties including ADT-38, ADT-39, CR-109 and Bapatla for the current samba and thaladi.

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