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Crop sowing on in TN irrigated areas

R. Balaji

CHENNAI, July 3

FARMERS in Tamil Nadu have pinned their hopes on the monsoon to increase crop areas. Having brought under crop cover areas with assured irrigation, farmers are awaiting the onset of monsoon to take up extensive sowing, according to official sources.

The kharif crop sowing in irrigated areas had commenced, and the crop stands of paddy, millets, pulses, cotton, sugarcane and oilseeds were satisfactory. As against last year, this season's progress was satisfactory, the sources said.

During the current season, the Government has fixed a target of six lakh hectares for paddy of which 72,400 ha. have been covered and the balance will be covered once rains commence and water is available in the canals in the delta areas. Comparatively, during the same period last year 75,200 hectares had been covered under paddy.

According to farmers' representatives, in the Cauvery delta, the water availability is a cause for concern. With the Government's decision to open the Mettur dam in mid-June, rains will be a key factor in saving the crop particularly during the later sta ges. Under the circumstances, even after 18 days of water release, transplantation is restricted to areas with assured water supply. Kuruvai cultivation is likely to cover about one lakh ha.

In the Cauvery delta alone, farmers have raised 6,700 hectare nurseries, and 20,000 hectares are being transplanted. There is still 4,700 hectares of nurseries awaiting water before being transplanted. Transplantation has been restricted only to areas wi th ground water potential.

Against a target of 9.45 lakh ha. of millets, over 63,200 ha. have been covered up to June, compared to 61,100 ha. during the same period last year. In pulses, compared to a target of 4.88 lakh ha., 43,000 ha. have been covered compared to 56,400 ha. dur ing the same period in the last season.

For cotton, compared to a target of 90,000 hectares, 14,900 hectares have been covered as against 18,900 ha. last year. As far as oilseeds are concerned, over 72,700 ha. have been covered compared to 1.2 lakh ha. last year. The target has been fixed at 8 .3 lakh ha.

The Government agencies had stocked up required quantities of inputs such as fertilisers and seeds. Under the kharif programme, 2.34 lakh tonnes of nitrogenous fertilisers, 94,500 tonnes of phosphatic and 90,000 tonnes of potassic fertilisers were requir ed. The stock situation was comfortable to meet the demand, the sources said.

According to them, if the monsoon fails, this would leave the balance acreages fallow, but would be available for the subsequent season when the shortfall will be made up. There is no cause for concern, and the annual targets will be achieved. A target o f 22 lakh ha. has been fixed for paddy, 15 lakh ha. for millets, 10 lakh ha. for pulses, 2.5 lakh ha. for cotton and 14 lakh ha. for oilseeds.