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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay connected Friday (June 12, 2026) announced a Kuruvai Special Package for paddy cultivation successful the Cauvery delta districts and different areas of the State astatine a outgo of ₹134.83 crore.
According to an authoritative release, paddy is cultivated successful 52.72 lakh acres crossed the State. In the Cauvery delta portion comprising Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts, and definite parts of Cuddalore, Tiruchi, and Ariyalur districts, paddy is cultivated annually connected 20.65 lakh acres, of which an mean of 5.14 lakh acres is cultivated during the Kuruvai season.
In different districts, paddy cultivation is undertaken annually connected 32.07 lakh acres, of which an mean of 5.48 lakh acres is cultivated during the Kar, Kuruvai, and Sornavari seasons. Usually, the Mettur dam is opened connected the customary day of June 12 each year to facilitate Kuruvai paddy cultivation successful the delta districts.
Rainfall deficit
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that rainfall during the Southwest monsoon play whitethorn beryllium beneath mean owed to the El Nino effect. As the Southwest monsoon has been delayed, inflow into the Mettur dam has remained low. At present, the h2o level successful the dam stands astatine lone 79.56 feet (with a retention of 41.52 tmc ft), and determination is nary anticipation of opening the dam connected June 12, the merchandise said.
As a result, determination is small anticipation of cultivating paddy connected the accustomed 5 lakh acres successful the Cauvery delta districts. However, since cultivation tin inactive beryllium carried retired connected up to 3.55 lakh acres done filter points successful these areas, and arsenic farmers successful different districts are facing irregular rainfall conditions, the Chief Minister has announced the implementation of the Kuruvai Special Package for 2026 to support farmers’ livelihoods and promote paddy cultivation, the merchandise said.
A full of ₹77.5 crore has been allocated for delta areas, portion ₹57.33 crore has been allocated for different districts. Through this package, mechanisation volition beryllium encouraged and h2o absorption improved. The strategy volition besides assistance rise farmers’ income and fortify the State’s nutrient security, the merchandise said.
Further, done the Agricultural Engineering Department, desilting works covering 2,325 km of C and D channels successful the delta districts person been completed astatine a outgo of ₹10 crore. In addition, desilting works covering 4,971 km of A and B channels are being carried retired by the Water Resources Department astatine a outgo of ₹100 crore, of which 97% has been completed truthful far, the merchandise said.
Further, 10,714 metric tonnes of paddy seeds and 4.02 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers person been stocked for Kuruvai cultivation. In addition, uninterrupted three-phase powerfulness proviso volition beryllium provided for 18 hours a day, it added.
