Samba transplantation has been completed on 1,18,000 hectares against the target of 1,45,000 hectares in Thanjavur district till Monday. Aided by the continuous downpour, farmers have transplanted the crop at many places in the district. At preseent transplantation of the crop is going on at Pattukottai and Peravurani areas.
Agriculture department officials expect the transplantation to go on till the end of this month in areas irrigated by Cauvery and Grand Anaicut canal. In areas like Budalur, which are irrigated by Uyyakondan canal and New Kattalai canal, transplantation may go upto December 15.
Now farmers are raising the crop varieties ADT 38, ADT39 and CO43 which have a duration of 120 days. Major area has come under CR1009 which has a duration of 155 to 160 days. "We are hopeful of achieving the target of 1,45,000 hectares" agriculture department officials said.
Rainfall recorded till eight a.m.on Monday:Nannilam 50 mms, Lower Anaicut 12 mms, Mannargudi six mms, Needamangalam six mms, Peravurani 17 mms, Orathanadu five mms, Orathanadu five mms, Madukkur five mms, Thanjavur five mms, Papanasam five mms, Kumbakonam seven mms.
Water level at Mettur dam stood at 85.03 ft. The storage was 47.15 tmc ft. The inflow into the dam was 8298 cusecs. There was no discharge from the dam due to rain in delta districts.