Scanty rainfall, low-water levels to affect kuruvai paddy yields this year, warn Tamil Nadu farmers

Subject: Environment

Section: Biodiversity

Context:

Tamil Nadu farmers have warned of low paddy yields this year, claiming that kuruvai, or short-term paddy cultivation, on about 100,000 acres in delta districts has been hit due to a lack of water for irrigation.

Kuruvai crops:

Kuruvai crops are short-duration ones cultivated in the June-September period in the river deltas.
- Tamil Nadu has several districts known as delta districts due to their location in river valleys. The primary delta districts in the state are Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam.
- About three-fourths of the paddy grown in the state is cultivated in the delta region.
Kuruvai crops are grown over an area of 360,000 acres and need a large amount of water.
Farmers are solely dependent on water from Mettur dam on the Kaveri river in Salem. Water shortage can impact kuruvai crops and lead to crop losses, impacting the livelihoods of farmers.

Samba crops of Tamilnadu:

Samba is a variety of rice grown in Tamil Nadu, some other parts of India and Sri Lanka, and has a small ovular grain, compared to the long grain of basmati rice.
At risk due to Scanty rainfall and shortage of water.
The seeds are sown between September and November.
Samba rice is a vital crop in the state, and its success relies heavily on the availability of water for irrigation.