Kuruvai transplantation is going on in pumpset-irrigated areas in Thanjavur district.
According to Agriculture Department officials, the crop has been transplanted so far on 5,012 hectares. With the possibility of opening of Mettur Dam on the traditional date of June 12 ruled out this year , Kuruvai may restricted only to pumpset-irrigated areas in Thanjavur district this year as was the case last year. It is expected that another 15,000 hectares may be covered this year in pumpset-irrigated areas this year. ?In total, we expect the coverage to be around 20,000 to 22,000 hectares this year,? said P. Lognanathan, Joint Director of Agriculture.
Out of the 5,012 hectares, covered so far in the district, the crop has been raised under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in 1,800 hectares. ?We expect at least 60 per cent of the total coverage to be under SRI this year,? said Mr. Loganathan. To achieve this, the Department had planned awareness campaign and training for all the village panchayat presidents in the district on June 14 and June 16, he added. Farmers have raised mostly ADT36 and ADT 43 varieties of paddy.
Last year, as Mettur dam was opened on July 28, Kuruvai coverage was restricted only to pumpset-irrigated areas in the district and the coverage was 22,458 hectares. Normal Kuruvai area in the district was 45,000 hectares.
