The recent widespread rainfall and water flow in canals in Aranthangi taluk have raised hopes of a good samba paddy season in Pudukottai district this year. Coming as it does after drought-like conditions and monsoon failure over the past four or five years in the district, the current situation is widely seen as conducive for a good crop.
“It is a good beginning to the season; we hope will have a good monsoon this year. It is a welcome change after the severe drought-like conditions that had prevailed in the district over the past four-five years,” said G.S. Dhanapathy, a progressive farmer and district chairman, Farmers Forum of India.
“We have had a good spell of rain. We hope that the rains will continue and help recharge the water table. I have already raised nurseries using water from my borewell,” said Rengan, a farmer of Kathakurichi in Alangudi taluk, who plans to raise samba paddy on his 1.5 acres.
Water from the Cauvery has also reached Nagudi. “The Cauvery Mettur Project (CMP) canal feeds 138 tanks in the district and also provides direct irrigation in several places,” pointed out Mr.Dhanapathy.
According to Agriculture department officials expect samba paddy to be raised on about 87,500 hectares in the district, including 37,500 hectares in the CMP areas. The department anticipates that farmers will opt for direct sowing in about 40,000 ha out of the total area.
