Water released from Amaravathy Dam to aid paddy cultivation in 55,000 acres has seen low farmer interest in Ramakulam and surrounding areas due to labour shortages and high costs of agricultural inputs.
Coimbatore: Despite the recent release of water from the Amaravathy Dam, aimed at benefiting agriculture over 55,000 acres of land across various regions, local farmers remain largely uninterested in pursuing paddy cultivation. This release was intended to irrigate both old and new ayacuts under the dam's system. The regions under the old ayacut including Ramakulam, Kallapuram, Kumaralingam, Sircarkannadipudur, Chozhamadevi, Kaniyur, Kandathur, and Karathozhuvu were to benefit from this water distribution.
The irrigation scheme was managed in two distinct phases, wherein water would be supplied for 80 days followed by a cessation for 55 days, before resuming again for another 80 days. Historically, farmers in these areas have prepared their lands for paddy in anticipation of the water release. However, this year presents a contrasting scenario as farmers delay their crop activities over the past four days.
Key concerns cited by the local agricultural community include a severe shortage of labor and escalating costs of agricultural inputs. These issues compound the economic challenges faced by farmers, urging them to demand higher government support in paddy procurement. Farmers now suggest an increase in the government procurement price for a quintal of paddy to ₹3,200, contrasting sharply with the current procurement price of ₹2,430 and the market rate of ₹2,700—prices they deem insufficient to cover their increased expenses.
The irrigation scheme was managed in two distinct phases, wherein water would be supplied for 80 days followed by a cessation for 55 days, before resuming again for another 80 days. Historically, farmers in these areas have prepared their lands for paddy in anticipation of the water release. However, this year presents a contrasting scenario as farmers delay their crop activities over the past four days.
Key concerns cited by the local agricultural community include a severe shortage of labor and escalating costs of agricultural inputs. These issues compound the economic challenges faced by farmers, urging them to demand higher government support in paddy procurement. Farmers now suggest an increase in the government procurement price for a quintal of paddy to ₹3,200, contrasting sharply with the current procurement price of ₹2,430 and the market rate of ₹2,700—prices they deem insufficient to cover their increased expenses.