CHENNAI: Chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday announced a special package of Rs134.83 crore to encourage Kuruvai cultivation, aiming to boost paddy production in both delta and non-delta districts this year.Annually, the state cultivates paddy on an average of 52.72 lakh hectares – 20.65 lakh hectares in the delta region and 32.07 lakh hectares in non-delta districts. Of this total, Kuruvai season cultivation accounts for 5.14 lakh hectares, said the CM in a statement.Due to a significant decline in Southwest monsoon rainfall, the water level in the Mettur reservoir stands at 79.56 ft, preventing the scheduled release of water for Kuruvai cultivation on June 12. However, Kuruvai cultivation can be taken up in around 3.5 lakh hectares through filter points, even as non-delta districts face poor rainfall.To safeguard the livelihoods of paddy growers, the state government has allocated Rs 77.50 crore for delta region farmers using filter points and Rs 57.33 crore for those in non-delta districts cultivating Kuruvai and Sornavari varieties.In addition to the financial aid, the govt would provide three-phase electricity for 18 hours daily for farmers. It has also kept ready 10,714 metric tonnes of paddy seeds and 4.02 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers to support farmers throughout the season.
