Despite the delay in the onset of the northeast monsoon, the State Agriculture Department is optimistic about meeting its targets with regard to coverage for foodgrains – paddy, pulses and millets.
Its optimism is based on the comfortable storage in reservoirs and the prediction of a normal rainfall during the just-arrived northeast monsoon.
As for the reservoirs, the Mettur dam, the lifeline of the Cauvery delta in the State, has around 62 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water against its capacity of 93.47 TMC. In the coming weeks, other irrigation reservoirs are likely to receive considerable inflows.
12% more rainfall
The Agriculture Department has been alerted by meteorologists, both within and outside the government, that heavy rain spells are expected in the next two weeks. Going by the official forecast, the State will get 12% higher rainfall than what is anticipated.
It should receive around 30 cm more rainfall by the end of December. Between October 1 and November 2, the State recorded about 17 cm rainfall.
For statistical purposes, the Meteorological Department regards the period of October to December as northeast monsoon, regardless of the date of onset.
Foodgrains have been raised on about 19.9 lakh hectares, of which paddy accounts for 11.3 lakh ha; millets – 5. 86 lakh ha and pulses – 2.7 lakh ha, against the targets of 18.5 lakh ha, 8.67 lakh ha and 8.8 lakh ha respectively. As agricultural operations will pick up momentum in the coming months, there will be no hitch in meeting the targets, says an official.
At the same time, the authorities are urging farmers to enrol themselves under the Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme, as the last date is November 30. As the meteorological prediction is positive with regard to rainfall, there is reluctance on the part of many farmers not to go for insurance. Yet, the Agriculture Department is cautioning them to get insured, as there may be heavy rainfall, and consequently, crop loss.
During the current year, about four lakh farmers have taken the insurance cover and the Department hopes that this figure will go up to 14 lakhs.