Continuous rain has brightened the prospects of a good samba paddy crop and other rain-fed cultivation in Karur district. On an average, the district receives 652 mm in a year. The north-east monsoon chiefly contributes to the rainfall in the district as the south-west monsoon is highly erratic. It receives an average rainfall of 238.4 mm during south-west monsoon between June and September. Though the district saw a shortfall of about 100 mm during this south-west monsoon, the district has received good rain for the last five days consecutively. Besides Kulithalai, Karur, Krishnarayapuram and Thogamalai blocks, rain shadow blocks such as Aravakurichi, Thanthoni, Kadavur and K. Paramathi have also received good rain.
While the district received 3.78 mm on Tuesday, it recorded 33.64 mm on Friday. Heavy rain continued on Saturday and Sunday too. It has received 56.78 mm during the last five days and this is 8.71% of the average annual rainfall, thereby bringing hope to the farmers and agricultural officials.
While farming activities of raising samba paddy crop has picked up momentum in delta areas including Kulithalai and Krishnarayapurm, the farmers have begun preparing their fields for raising sorgham and gingelly in non-delta areas such Aravakurichi, Thanthodi, Kadavur and K. Paramathi.
Agricultural officials are of the view that the rain has raised hope for bringing 27,000 hectares under the rainfed cultivation this year. Similarly, officials say that the rain will be useful for farmers to raise paddy crop.
G. Valarmathi, Joint Director of Agriculture, told The Hindu that the timing of rain had facilitated the farmers to start preparing for raising paddy, gingelly, pulses and other crops in both delta and non-delta areas of the district. There would not be much hardship in achieving the target this year.
V. Kandasamy, Deputy Director of Agriculture, said that it has been decided to bring 27,050 hectare under pulses cultivation. Steps would be expedited to achieve the target by utilising the ongoing rain. The department had received reports that many farm ponds and check dams have been filling up steadily due to the recent rain.