Paddy Coverage Reaches a 15-Year High, This Year

Tamil Nadu has achieved a record coverage of paddy, with a total area of 21.65 lakh hectares, this fiscal year (2021-22). This is the most paddy coverage in the last 15 years. In 2015-16, the previous high was 20 lakh hectares. Rice production was approximately 74 lakh tonnes at the time. Rice production for the year is expected to be 75.5 lakh tonnes.

Given the damage that many parts of the state sustained during the northeast monsoon (October-December), it is unclear whether the state will be able to meet the target.

This year, paddy has been grown on nearly two lakh more hectares than the previous year (2020-21). In this year's coverage, the Cauvery delta accounts for approximately 7.4 lakh hectares, while the non-delta accounts for 14.223 lakh hectares.

Naturally, farmers achieved the majority of total coverage during the Samba/Thaladi/Pishanam cultivation season. The delta received 5.4 lakh hectares of coverage during the season, while the rest of the state received 9.47 lakh hectares.

One of the primary reasons for the State's improved performance was that both the southwest (June-September) and northeast monsoons were favorable. Despite the fact that there was no excess rainfall (as defined by the Meteorological Department) during the southwest monsoon, the State received 39 cm of rain, compared to the normal of about 34 cm.

The northeast monsoon was abundant, with 71 cm recorded as opposed to 45 cm. In total, the state received approximately 138 cm of rainfall in 2021, compared to an average of 94 cm.

As a result, the 15 major irrigation reservoirs had adequate storage. As of March 15 (Tuesday), their storage was nearly two-thirds of their combined capacity, implying that the reservoirs had approximately 132 thousand million cubic feet of storage (tmc ft).

In terms of Cauvery water, the state received approximately 249 tmc ft (as of March 13), which was 78 tmc ft more than the quantum prescribed by the Supreme Court for the fiscal year that began on June 1. Another reason for the increased paddy coverage is the well-established system of procurement at the MSP rate, combined with the State government's incentive.

In terms of pulses, the state has recorded approximately 30,000 hectares more than it did last year. Approximately 8.15 lakh hectares have been covered in total. According to an official, the government is eager to promote the crop aggressively. Sugarcane was planted on approximately 34,000 additional hectares this year among non-foodgrain agricultural crops.