Kuruvai paddy cultivation in parts of the Cauvery delta is encountering difficulties due to declining groundwater levels, increased salinity, and the lack of water release from the Mettur dam. Farmers in areas like Papanasam and Tiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district are struggling to sustain their crops, heavily relying on groundwater for irrigation this season.
The situation worsened with reduced daily free power supply for agricultural pumps, limiting farmers’ access to groundwater. Despite cultivating nearly one lakh acres with groundwater, the absence of Cauvery water release has forced farmers to solely depend on groundwater this year, impacting water tables significantly.
Farmers are facing challenges with rapid evaporation caused by the heatwave and the absence of river flow for over six months. The crisis is severe in Papanasam block, affecting around 8,400 acres of kuruvai cultivation. Additionally, rising groundwater salinity in various villages is threatening crop health and irrigation practices.
Many farmers are urging the Tamil Nadu government to release some water from the Mettur dam before August 3 to alleviate the situation temporarily. However, experts suggest that due to low reservoir levels, water release might not happen until September. They recommend direct sowing of medium-duration samba paddy in September, banking on the northeast monsoon for sufficient rainfall.
