Samba paddy likely to be raised on 49,830 hectares in Tiruchi district

The samba paddy crop is expected to be raised on 49,830 hectares in Tiruchi district this year.

The normal average samba coverage is about 50,000 hectares in the district. Last year, with the copious flow in the Cauvery, the coverage exceeded 52,000 hectares. However, with the delayed opening of the Mettur Dam for irrigation this year owing to poor storage and monsoon, the Agriculture Department has advised farmers in the district to opt for short and medium duration varieties. The department has also advised farmers to go in for direct sowing rather than raising nurseries as it would help reduce the water requirement.

In order to conserve water, farmers have been advised to go in for medium and short-duration varieties such as TRY-3, ADT-54, BPT-5204, CO-52, CO-50, CO-56, Improved White Ponni, TKM-13 and IR-20.

An Agriculture Officer in the district says TRY-5, a short duration variety, can withstand soil salinity

“Certified seeds of these paddy varieties are available through the Agricultural Extension Centres and Sub-Agricultural Extension Centres in the district. A total of 436 metric tonnes of certified paddy seeds has been stocked and made available for distribution,” M. Shanthamani, Joint Director of Agriculture, Tiruchi, told The Hindu.

Subsidy is also being provided for the purchase of notified paddy seeds. While ₹10 per kg is provided as subsidy for paddy varieties notified for more than 10 years, farmers can avail a subsidy ₹20 per kg for paddy varieties notified for less than 10 years, she said.