Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday appealed to the Cauvery delta farmers to go in for alternative crops in view of the continued uncertainity on the part of Karnataka to release water in Cauvery river.
Water is normally released from Stanley reservoir at Mettur for irrigation in the Cauvery delta on June 12, but this depended on the storage in the reservoir.
Jayalalithaa, in a statement here today, said the level at Mettur dam as on date was 26.19 feet, which was far below than the level during the same time last year -- 38.37 feet.
This resulted in the farmers being uncertain about whether they should go in for the conventional kuruvai paddy crop, she said adding that normally five lakh acres were brought under Kuruvai paddy cultivation in the delta districts.
Of these, on 1.25 lakh acres paddy crop was being raised based on filter point well irrigation, particularly in Mayiladuthurai, Sirkhazhi, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur taluks, she said adding that the farmers in these areas should go in for short duration paddy varieties like ADT-36, ADT-43 and IR-50, which could be harvested in 105 days instead of the usual 150 days for the longer duration varieties.
She advised the farmers to go in for the special technique advocated by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural university. The Agriculture department would take steps to popularise the technique, which would result in better yields, she said. MORE
{{/usCountry}}She advised the farmers to go in for the special technique advocated by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural university. The Agriculture department would take steps to popularise the technique, which would result in better yields, she said. MORE
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