Pre-monsoon rain raises hopes of Kuruvai farmers in delta districts

While the present rain has recharged the groundwater, farmers are hopeful that the monsoon this year would be above normal. Anticipating a good yield, the farmers are getting ready with their motor pump sets and input materials.

For the second time in the week, the Kandiyur, Tiruvaiyaru and Orathanadu region in Thanajvur district experienced heavy to moderate rains on Sunday. While the downpour brought down the temperature in these regions, the rain was also aiding the farmers to prepare their fields for the Kuruvai cultivation.Farmers in villages in and around Orathanadu are preparing to raise nurseries for the Kuruvai.

Borewells have also been cleaned as the groundwater level has increased significantly due to the recent rains in the region, said farmers. However, they were not sure of getting water from the Mettur dam, whose storage level was not encouraging. These rains also will also benefit the black gram cultivated in many places as the crop is in flowering stage in new delta areas irrigated by the Grand Anicut canal.

Meanwhile, the marginal increase in the inflow into the Mettur dam had also offered a ray of hope for the farmers of the delta districts. The inflow into the Mettur reservoir which stood at 571 cusecs on May 20 has significantly climbed up to 4,053 cusecs on May 27. The discharge has been reduced from 2,000 cusecs during last week to 500 cusecs this week. This reduction would save a lot of water that can be used for cultivation of Kuruvai and other corps.

With the adequate groundwater and well laid-out plan to raise nurseries, farmers in Lalgudi region in Tiruchy, have also started the preparatory works for paddy cultivation.According to a senior official from the Agriculture department, Lalgudi and Uppiliyapuram were the only blocks which involve in Kuruvai cultivation every year. 

There were about 6,000 hectares in the both pockets. Still, the farmers, who do not own a borewell, were sceptical to undertake the cultivation fearing loss, like it happened in the previous years.