Kuruvai harvest is picking up in Thanjavur district. Harvest is going on in full swing in Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thirupanandal, Ammapettai and Kumbakonam blocks. According to V. Balasubramanian, Joint Director of Agriculture, Thanjavur district, harvest will touch its peak in the first week of October.
Kuruvai has been raised on 40,283 hectares in Thanjavur district. Out of this conventional method of cultivation has been followed on 14,714 hectares while System of Rice Intensification Method was followed on 25,569 hectares.
Harvest has so far been completed on 5348 hectares out of which 4520 hectares under conventional method of cultivation has come for harvest and 828 hectares under SRI method has come for harvest.
Average yield in the conventional method of cultivation is 6520 kilos per hectare and 8356 kilos per hectare under SRI method. Harvesters are used by farmers at many places due to labour shortage.
Farmers are paying a rent of Rs 1500 per hour for the harvesters. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) has opened 137 Direct Purchase Centres for procuring Kuruvai paddy. On an average the DPCs receive 1500 to 2000 tonnes of paddy, TNCSC sources said. On Thursday, 1677 tonnes of paddy was procured they said.
In Tiruvarur District 263 DPCs are functioning. On a average 3500 to 4000 tonnes are procured. On Thursday the arrival was 3800 tonnes, TNCSC sources said.
Samba plan for Thanjavur District
Samba transplantation has begun in Thanjavur District. Transplantation has been completed on 18,469 hectares out of which 11,826 hectares are under SRI method and 6643 hectares are under conventional method. The plan is to raise samba on 1,35,000 hectares.
