Chennai In order to guarantee the highest crop output, a group of prominent agricultural technocrats in Tamil Nadu has advised the state government to adopt proactive measures to advise farmers on paddy production, coordinating with seasonal schedules and water availability.

The government’s decision to begin releasing water from the Mettur Dam on June 12 was applauded by the committee, which was made up of P. Kalaivanan, P. Venkatesan, V. Palaniappan, and V. Kaliyamurthy. They emphasized that, with the right support and guidance systems in place, this step offers a timely chance for productive Kuruvai and Samba paddy farming.

The experts emphasized in their proposals how crucial it is to maximize groundwater resources in order to grow Kuruvai on at least four lakh acres. Additionally, they recommended establishing cultivation goals of 4.50 lakh acres for Thaladi, 9.30 lakh acres for Samba, and 5.25 lakh acres for Kuruvai.

The technocrats recommended that Samba be planted by August 15 and Kuruvai nurseries be finished by June 30 in order to save crops from any harm during the Northeast Monsoon.

In order to increase resilience and efficiency, they also advocated for extensive awareness efforts that would support direct planting techniques throughout the Samba season.

But the experts cautioned that at least 330 TMC of water would be needed to meet these goals. Only 70 TMC of the current 76 TMC storage levels may be used for irrigation.

In this regard, they called on the state government to guarantee that the state’s allotted 167.25 TMC of water from Karnataka be released in accordance with the interstate agreement.

The panel also emphasized how critical it is to desilt the C and D canals as well as the networks of their branches in order to enable seamless water flow to the tail-end areas. They contended that in order to maximize output throughout the next cultivation cycle, timely water release, careful canal maintenance, and smart crop planning are all necessary.

In order to overcome climate risks and guarantee food security in the state, the technocrats emphasized in their conclusion that coordinated effort, farmer knowledge, and effective water usage are essential.