Even as it predicted that the severe unprecedented drought witnessed in the State during 2016-17 “may affect the foodgrain production over the next two years,” the Tamil Nadu government appears hopeful of achieving the target of 100 lakh metric tonnes in agricultural production during 2017-18.
Listing out various policies and strategies for agro-ecological intensification during 2017-18, the State government, in its policy note for the agriculture department, contended that the dip in production was “only temporary.”
Despite various farmer-oriented good agricultural practices implemented during 2016-17, the sector was ravaged by “various unabated natural factors such as the failure of the southwest and northeast monsoons, non-release of Cauvery water by Karnataka, poor storage position in all major reservoirs, Cyclone Vardah, severe drought etc.,” the note tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday said.
Notwithstanding the efforts taken by the State government, the situation turned grim as drought that prevailed across the State had a long-lasting impact and the standing crops raised during the samba and rabi season, had “withered beyond revival,” it maintained.
Besides the geographical limitations, the spatial and temporal changes in rainfall distribution “added to the woes of the cropping pattern” in the State. Tamil Nadu witnessed a large deficient season during the northeast monsoon with a deviation of minus 62% against the normal rainfall of 440 mm, which was “the worst ever monsoon failure in 141 years,” the note observed.
“However, this is only temporary and the resilient farming community of Tamil Nadu, with the hand-holding support extended by the government, will propel the State to achieve 100 lakh MT during 2017-18,” it added.
