Madurai, June 18 (IANS) With nearly half of June already over and the Kuruvai cultivation season underway, farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district are facing growing uncertainty over taking up paddy cultivation this year due to inadequate water availability in the Vaigai and Mullaiperiyar reservoirs.

Agriculture Department officials have identified around 45,000 acres across the Sholavandan, Vadipatti and Kallandhiri blocks for Kuruvai paddy cultivation during the current season. However, despite the sowing period having commenced earlier this month, farmers are yet to begin cultivation activities on a significant scale owing to concerns over irrigation prospects.

Kuruvai, the short-term paddy crop cultivated between June and September, depends heavily on timely water releases from major reservoirs. Farmers say the current storage levels in the Vaigai and Mullaiperiyar dams are insufficient to provide confidence for initiating cultivation operations.

“Kuruvai cultivation generally begins in June and continues until September. Although nearly three weeks of the season have passed, farmers have not started cultivation because there is no assurance of adequate irrigation water,” said farmer leader Kurunji Kumaran.

He noted that many farmers are reluctant to invest in land preparation, seeds and other inputs without clarity on water availability for the entire crop cycle.

The delay has raised concerns among farming communities in the district, as a prolonged wait could shorten the cultivation window and affect overall productivity.

Several farmers are closely monitoring reservoir levels and rainfall patterns before making a final decision on whether to proceed with paddy cultivation this season.

Meanwhile, officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD) said the situation could improve if rainfall continues in the catchment areas feeding the Vaigai dam.

Recent rains have already led to a noticeable increase in inflows into the reservoir. According to WRD data, the water level in the Vaigai dam, which stood at 21.29 feet on June 1, increased to 28.08 feet by June 17 following sustained rainfall in the catchment region.

Officials expressed optimism that continued precipitation over the coming weeks could further raise storage levels and improve prospects for irrigation. However, until reservoir storage reaches levels considered adequate for assured water release, farmers remain cautious.

As the crucial cultivation window narrows, the fate of this year’s Kuruvai crop in Madurai will largely depend on the performance of the southwest monsoon and the resulting inflows into the region’s key irrigation reservoirs.

–IANS

aal/dpb