Widespread rains in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts for the past three days has brought cheers to farmers who have taken up samba and thaladi cultivation.
Samba transplantation has been completed on 94,000 hectares in Thanjavur district against the target of 1,18,000 hectares. Thaladi transplantation is going on in full swing and the rain has accelerate the transplantation in Thanjavur and Orathanadu areas. Thaladi is cultivated in areas where Kuruvai harvest has been completed and transplantation has been completed on 19,000 hectares against the target of 25,000 hectares.
"This is a welcome rain. It is good as it is neither heavy nor mild. There is no pest attack in samba and thaladi crops in Thanjavur district," said agriculture department officials. In Tiruvarur district, the rain has mitigated the pest attack in crops which was noticed at many places. Mite and Mealy Bug attack was there at many places in Tiruvarur district. "Pests have been washed out in the rain" said agriculture department officials. "The rainfall is encouraging as we got less than normal rainfall in October," said farmers.
In Tiruvarur district samba target has been achieved. Crop has been raised on 1,28,000 hectares of which direct sowing has been carried out on 70,000 hectares and the rest transplanted. Thaladi transplantation has been completed on 13,000 hectares against the target of 18,000 hectares. The following is the rainfall recorded in the last 24-hours ending at 8 a.m. in different parts of Thanjavur district (in mm): Grand Anicut 16.2, Thanjavur 10.2, Thirukattupalli 16.4, Ayyampettai 21, Kumbakonam 12.4, Eachanviduthi 16, Neyvasal Thenpanthi 7.8, Adhirampattinam 7, Pattukottai 6, Budalur 4, Vallam 6 , Kurunkulam 6, Thiruvaiyaru 8, Papanasam 8, Anaikarai 11, Thiruvidaimaruthur 12.4 and Peravurani 3.4 mm. Tiruvarur 11.2 , Thiruthuraipoondi 8 , Kodavasal 16.4, Needamangalam 6.8, Korayar head 9.4, Mannargudi 4 , and Muthupettai 1.4 mm.
