Even as the entire Tamil Nadu is closely watching the developments on the Cauvery front to protect the samba crop in the delta region, the rainfed farming, covering almost three million hectares in the State, is entering a crucial phase now. [The total cultivable area is seven million hectares]. “We can afford to wait for another three weeks at the maximum to see how much rainfed crops could be salvaged this year despite deficient rainfall,” Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) sources told The Hindu .
Rajachidambaram, State general secretary of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangham, is certain that only a fraction of the normal area has been covered under the rainfed crops so far. Many of these crops could be raised even if there are some good rains in the next 20 days.
According to official sources, the total normal rainfall during south west monsoon season (June-September) is 342 mm in Tamil Nadu. Up to August end, the normal rainfall is 199 mm but the actual rainfall received is only 165 mm. “Thus we have a deficit of 19 per cent”.
The sources said grain cholam, fodder cholam, red gram and gingili are some of the major crops raised during this season. Even groundnut is sown this week. Mr. Rajachidambaram, who hails from Perambalur district, says apart from groundnut and cholam, crops such as maize, cotton, cumbu, coriander and sunflower are also raised in certain parts of the State.
In Perambalur district, of the two lakh hectares of cultivable area, 50 per cent is rainfed. “Even if we are able to get some good rains in the next 15 days, maize, cotton and groundnut can be raised,” he adds.
TNAU sources point out that the State has seven agro-climatic conditions and crops vary according to them. While maize and cotton are raised in black soil, red soil is ideal for cholam and cumbu. In the east-coast region, a number of crops is sown between August 15 and September 15. “As we are hopeful of a bountiful north east monsoon, we can hope for a good harvest of various rainfed crops by the middle of January.” While groundnut could be sown up to September 15, pulses are being raised in Erode, Theni, Pudukottai, Thiruvannamalai districts and the east-coast region. Pulses are grown even in the delta after paddy. Gingili, cotton, chilli, ‘cholam’ and ‘cumbu’ are raised in some other parts. While ‘cholam’ is raised on about three lakh hectares, ‘cumbu’ on 80,000 hectares, ‘ragi’ on about one lakh hectares, pulses are raised on about five 5.25 lakh hectares. In the category of pulses, it is black gram which covers about two lakh hectares and green gram about 1.3 lakh hectares. Red gram, mainly a rainfed crop, is raised on 37,000 hectares.
Asked whether there is any proposal to seek assistance from the State government for the rainfed crops, Mr. Rajachidambaram says it is unfortunate that those administering the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme do not come to the help of farmers even at this juncture.
