Experts call for Mettur Dam opening by August third week for successful samba cultivation

It also sought adequate funds for desilting of rivers, canals, lakes and for repair of shutters, sluices, besides insisting that all the works be completed by August 10. 

Detailing the annual recommendations on “Crop cultivation and Water budgeting” for 2018-19, which was released on Tuesday, P Kalaivanan, senior member of the forum, said no variety could be sown from July to August 15 as the crop would be affected during the peak monsoon season by incidents like pollen shedding. The long-term varieties with a duration of 155-160 days should be sown between August 15 and September 7. 

The medium-term varieties with a duration of 130-140 days should be sown during September, he added. To achieve a good samba harvest, the Mettur dam should be opened in the third week of August and the 4.45 lakh hectares of samba and 1.1 lakh hectares of kuruvai cultivated initially through borewell water. To feed the 1.40 lakh hectares of other crops, a total of 183.80 tmc would be required to be released from the dam, the assessment by the technocrats said. 

“Of the total 4.45 lakh hectares of samba, at least 3 lakh hectares should be taken up under the direct sowing method to manage the water availability. Last year, 2.25 lakh hectares were covered under the direct sowing method,” Kalaivanan said. 

Going by the previous years’ production and rain forecast, the forum recommended opening of the Mettur dam during August third week. Efforts should be made to get the monthly quota of Cauvery water as stipulated by the Supreme Court. 

To reduce water requirement and to ensure that all of the crop is in an advanced stage of growth before the commencement of the Northeast monsoon around October 15, a campaign for adopting direct sowing in two-thirds of the area should be taken up, it suggested.