CHENNAI: M R K Panneerselvam, the Tamil Nadu minister for agriculture and farmers’ welfare, has requested the Centre to guarantee that fertilizers are delivered on time for the benefit of the state’s farmers. He requested that imported fertilizers intended for Tamil Nadu to be routed through the states and neighbouring Puducherry’s ports, citing a backlog and delays in deliveries.
Crops And Monsoon
Thanks to a healthy southwest monsoon, water was released from the Mettur dam on time for kuruvai agriculture in the delta region, according to Panneerselvam in a letter to Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya. “Since the kuruvai special package was implemented, the kuruvai crop has grown to 4.9 lakh acres, well above the aim of 3.5 lakh acres. He said, “This is a record for the last 46 years.”
Furthermore, due to abundant rain, water was released for agriculture from practically all dams in southern Tamil Nadu. Paddy cultivation has spread across the state, covering more than 10 lakh acres. This is an increase of 2.72 lakh acres over the previous year. “This year, more than 26.4 lakh acres of land have been planted in diverse crops. As a result, demand for urea and DAP has risen, according to Panneerselvam.
Despite the fact that the Centre had allocated 3.83 lakh tonne of urea to Tamil Nadu from April to August 2021, the state has only received 2.56 lakh tonne. He stated that a supply of roughly 1.27 lakh tonne of urea was still pending. While 1.2 lakh tonne of DAP was given to the state, Tamil Nadu had only got 87,000 tonne so far, resulting in a 33,000 tonne shortage, he added.
“Given the fact that farmers have planted a total of 26.4 lakh acres in diverse crops, there is an urgent need to increase fertilizer supplies. The Centre can route the supply of imported fertilizers through ports in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to avoid further delays,” Panneerselvam said.
What Is Kuruvai Agriculture?
- Kuruvai, also known as “short-term” in Tamil, refers to the crops grown in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery Delta.
- The majority of the crops farmed in this delta are paddy, and the health of these crops, as well as the eventual livelihood of these farmers, is highly reliant on the Cauvery river ample flow of water.
- The river has been a source of contention between the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have relied on the river, which originates in Karnataka. Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, derives its drinking water from the Krishnaraja sagar Dam.
- Month of Sowing: June – July, Duration :< 120 days, Suitable varieties: Short duration varieties
- Cultivating places: Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai and Erode district.