Farmers seek Rain God's blessings to raise kuruvai crop

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, May 25 (UNI) Farmers in this rice bowl of Tamil Nadu are seeking divine intercession for the early onset of South West monsoon and good rains in the catchment areas of Mettur reservoir as the water level in the dam is insufficient to meet the irrigation demands of the delta farmers for kuruvai cultivation.

The water level in the reservoir stood at 74.73 ft this morning, as against its capacity of 120 ft.

Given the present conditions, the release of water from the Mettur reservoir on the customary June 12 depended heavily on the onset of monsoon, forcing the farmers to look up to the Rain God.

With summer rains lashing several parts of the delta region for the last three days, farmers have taken up preparations for kuruvai paddy cultivation. Farmers having borewell facility have already started kuruvai paddy cultivation.

Kuruvai cultivation had been taken up in nearly 40,000 acres and with the summer rains, another 10,000 acres would be brought under cultivation.

UNI