Samba transplantation is picking up in Thanjavur district. Aided with the continuous rain in the evenings for the past three days and using the available canal water, farmers have taken up transplantation of the crop in many areas of the district. Farm labourers, particularly women, are seen engaged in transplantation at various places in the district.
According to the agriculture department officials, the plan is to raise samba and Thaladi on 1,44,000 hectares in the district this year. Nursery has so far been raised on 8,800 hectares while transplantation has been completed on 6,750 hectares. Farmers have been advised to complete transplantation by September 30. But it appears that it may go on till October 15 in the district if the set target has to be achieved.
Moreover, many farmers were in a dilemma whether to go in for samba or not this year as they were not getting adequate canal water. The three days of rain have given them hopes. Rainfall recorded on September 16 in the district was 184.6 mms, on September 17 was 353.10 mms and on September 18, 102.8 mms.
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The agriculture department has so far distributed 2,207 tonnes of samba seeds to farmers. Out of that, 850 tonnes have been distributed through the department, 237 tonnes through co-operative institutions and 1,120 tonnes through private companies.
Primary Agriculture Co-operative Credit Societies in the district have sold 2,133 tonnes of fertilisers so far. Out of them urea was 1,187 tonnes, Di-Ammonium Phosphate 613 tonnes, Potash 216 tonnes and Complex, 117 tonnes.
Meanwhile, the water level at Mettur Dam stood at 94.71 ft on Friday. The storage was 58.20 tmc ft. Inflow into the dam was 29,265 cusecs and the discharge from the dam was 18,000 cusecs. Discharge into the Cauvery from the Grand Anicut was 1,784 cusecs, into the Vennar 9,006 cusecs and into the Grand Anicut canal 2,704 cusecs.
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