Scattered rainfall in days leading up to harvest leave farmers worrying in Ramanathapuram district

Scattered rainfall worries farmers in Ramanathapuram district as harvest season approaches, impacting paddy and other crops.

The two days of scattered rainfall in the district, which started as a drizzle and ended up as moderate rainfall, has put farmers in worry as the harvest season nears.  

The district, which has an area under cultivation sprawling across 1.4 lakh ha, has a variety of crops starting from paddy to most varieties of millets and non-food crops like cotton. Of the total area, 45,000 ha of farmlands where paddy is the predominant crop is situated in areas of Tiruvadanai and R.S. Mangalam. 

The months leading up to cultivation, which would usually be devoid of rain, to keep the crops intact and sturdy, due to various reasons, has received scant rainfall in different parts of the district. 

Though the average rainfall recorded in the following areas in the district - Mandapam 1.1 mm, Pamban 1 mm, Thangachimadam 1 mm and Rameswaram 0.8 mm – was minimum and scattered, agricultural officials fear even the scant rainfall would render the standing crops unsuitable for harvest. 

According to M.A. Amarlal, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Ramanathapuram district, three varieties of rice – RNR 15048, BPT 5204 and LNR 34449 – largely used in the district are popularly known to be slender with fine grains. 

Of the three, RNR 15044, a variety which produces a comparatively lesser yield with a higher selling price, was sown in 75% of the land. This variety of crop, unlike other two varieties which takes 130 to 140 days, takes only about 100 days to be fully-grown.

Since it is a 100-day crop, the crops that are sown around September are almost ready to be harvested, the official said.