With all reservoirs and 90 per cent of the irrigation tanks across the district now brimming with water, farming operations in the district have moved to top gear as cultivation of paddy has been completed on 54,285 hectares till Tuesday (December 22).
Since the district has been blessed with abundant rainfall during the northeast monsoon this year, all eleven dams – Papanasam, Servalar, Manimuthar, Gadana, Ramanadhi, Karuppanadhi, Gundar, Adavinainar, Vadakku Pachchaiyar, Kodumudiyar and Nambiyar – have reached their maximum storage level. More importantly, all 921 systemised tanks fed by these reservoirs and more than 90 per cent of the 1,528 rain-fed tanks have reached their full capacity.
Buoyed by this favourable situation, farmers across the district have started farming operations in full swing to complete paddy sapling transplantation on 54,285 hectares till Tuesday.
During this fiscal that commenced on April 1, paddy cultivation has been taken up on 74,965 hectares so far in the district.
Since the farmers are expected to go in for advance kar paddy cultivation in the last week of February or March next as storage level in the dams is comfortable, the area of paddy cultivation during the current fiscal is expected to cross 90,000 hectares.
Meanwhile, Collector M. Karunakaran said there were adequate stocks of chemical fertilizers in all primary agriculture cooperative banks and a credible mechanism for monitoring fertilizer and pesticide price has been put in place. “Since we’ve got adequate fertilizer stocks and the supply is continuing without any problem, there is no need for traders to sell these chemicals at an inflated price. Those who want to make extra money will have to pay a hefty price as the block-level flying squads are conducting frequent raids in the shops. So this pisanam paddy season is likely to be a highly profitable activity,” said ‘Minnal’ Mohamed Ali, a leading fertilizer stockist from Maanur near here.
Joint Director of Agriculture L. Perumal said all officials attached to his department had been instructed to visit the fields quite frequently so that incidence of pest attack would come to their notice at the right time.
“If our officers happen to notice pest attack, they can prescribe the right solution to the farmers at the right time, which will help avoid resurgence of diseases and ensure better yield. Since all our officials are regularly visiting the farms in every area, we can expect bumper harvest in the district this year,” Mr. Perumal.
Farmers likely to go for advance kar paddy cultivation in the last week of February or March as storage level in dams is comfortable

Source : The Hindu