TRICHY: Tamil Nadu govt on Friday announced a Rs 134.83 crore kuruvai special package to support paddy cultivation, but it failed to enthuse farmers as water for irrigating the crop could not be released as scheduled (customarily on June 12) from Mettur dam due to low storage. This has left thousands of farmers in the Cauvery delta districts in distress as the dam’s opening remains uncertain, and they won’t be able to begin sowing.In a statement, chief minister C Joseph Vijay attributed the delay to a delayed southwest monsoon and El Niño effect. Of the total package, Rs 77.50 crore has been allotted for delta districts and Rs 57.33 crore for non-delta areas. The funds will provide incentives for machine transplantation, direct sowing, bio-fertilizers, micronutrients and certified seeds. Many farmers in the delta region have found the special package of no use. P Kamal Ram, leader of Tamil Nadu Kadaimadai Vivasaayigal Sangam, who cannot cultivate on his 10 acres in Thalaignayiru, Nagapattinam, said, “We are unable to cultivate kuruvai paddy this year without Cauvery water. Our groundwater is saline. Kuruvai package is not beneficial for those who are entirely dependent on Cauvery river irrigation.”Last year, delta farmers achieved a record 6.31 lakh acres under kuruvai thanks to timely water release.This year, with Mettur dam level at only 79.5 feet (41.5 TMC) against a maximum of 120 feet (93.4 TMC), the outlook is bleak. The dam was not opened at such low levels in recent years to avoid risking samba crops.The state govt said the special package aims to support limited cultivation possible through borewells and tube wells in the delta and to encourage kuruvai, kar and sornavari seasons in non-delta regions. Normally, paddy is grown on 52.72 lakh acres across Tamil Nadu — 20.65 lakh acres in delta districts (including 5.14 lakh acres under kuruvai) and 32.07 lakh acres elsewhere. This year, only up to 3.55 lakh acres can be cultivated in the delta using groundwater due to low water levels. Agriculture minister R Vinoth said, “Chief minister Vijay will not abandon the farmers. He will give relief if they are affected.”At least 50% of delta farmland depends solely on Cauvery canals, while falling groundwater levels have heightened concerns. Farmers prefer to sow kuruvai in June for harvest by Sept, avoiding Oct-Nov monsoon damage. Late release forces them to skip kuruvai or risk crop loss.R. Vaithiyanathan, district president of Tamizhaga Kaviri Vivasaayigal Sangam, who is unable to cultivate his 30 acres in Kollidam, Mayiladuthurai district, said, “The primary source of income for farmers dependent on Cauvery water has been deprived. The benefits of the kuruvai package are not useful to us.”“As Mettur dam did not open on the customary date and its existing level is low, many of us are unable to start kuruvai. A delayed start will not materialize and hence the package announcement is useless,” said G Sethuraman, leader of Tamilazhaga Vivasaayigal Nala Sangam.
