Chennai: A statewide water shortage has led to a sharp drop in paddy cultivation in Tamil Nadu, with the cultivated area shrinking by around one lakh acres compared to the same period last year, officials in the agriculture department said.
In the delta districts—Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai—farmers typically take up Kuruvai paddy cultivation in June. The output from this season is procured for the government’s ration foodgrain programme.
This year, irrigation releases have not been made as the Mettur dam in Salem district does not have adequate water. Across the state, many waterbodies are reported to be dry, and the southwest monsoon has also not received normal rainfall, worsening irrigation constraints.
Data cited in the report show that Kuruvai cultivation in delta districts has fallen from 4.04 lakh acres last year to 3.47 lakh acres this year. In non-delta districts, paddy area has declined from 4.48 lakh acres to 4.02 lakh acres.
Overall, paddy cultivation across Tamil Nadu has dropped from 8.53 lakh acres last year to 7.50 lakh acres now, marking a reduction of about one lakh acres and causing concern within the agriculture department.
