Farmers’ federation urges government to allocate additional funds for Kuruvai Special Scheme

The Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Federation has urged the State government to allocate additional funds under the Kuruvai Special Scheme to protect paddy farmers and sustain Kuruvai cultivation.

In a statement, K.V. Elangeeran, president of the Federation said the water level in the Mettur reservoir stood at 41.64 TMC out of a total capacity of 93.47 TMC. With the southwest monsoon unlikely to bring significant rainfall to the Cauvery catchment areas in Karnataka, authorities have warned that reservoirs in Karnataka may not fill before late August, reducing the chances of water being released to Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Elangeeran said the shortfall in rainfall has pushed Kuruvai paddy cultivation in the delta region to the brink. While Kuruvai cultivation was expected on at least 3.5 lakh acres in the delta region, irregular three-phase power supply in recent weeks has caused many standing crops to wither. This would also put thousands of agricultural labourers at risk of losing work.

Farmers in the delta districts are already reeling under rising input costs and lack of assured procurement at Minimum Support Prices. In view of the crisis, the government should allocate additional funds under the Kuruvai Special Scheme, he said.