Thanjavur: “Rejuvanation of 5,451 tanks in the district, usage of drip and sprinkler irrigation and diversification to less water intensive crops is the need of the hour for Pudukottai district,” says S. Somasundaram, district development manager (DDM), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard). “I have been working here for the past six years. In the last six years, I have not seen tanks with water except one year. Even in that year also only half full. This year may be due to surplus water in Mettur dam, system tanks may get full, but not yet,” said Somasundaram.
The district-, which has an area of 4,663 sq.kms and 13 blocks with 763 villages with 16.18 lakh population (2011 census)-, is rain-fed. It receives 887 mms of rainfall in an year. Farmers raise paddy which requires large quantity of water. Next to paddy they raise sugarcane which is again a water intensive crop. They also raise maize, groundnut and coconut.
“Now farmers producers companies have been formed and they are successful in tapping ‘neera’. They give fresh, cool ‘neera’ to people. Each farmer will get Rs 4,000 per coconut tree now against
Rs 1,500 per tree. The Nabard took initiative in motivating farmers to produce neera” said Somasundaram.
“Usage of drip and sprinkler irrigation has not yet reached the rural masses. But we have been campaigning for it; Nabard has conducted water campaigns in 500 villages in the year 2017, sensitising farmers on importance of growing trees, rain water harvesting, water use efficiency and crop diversification. Climate Change Literacy campaign is going on now in which farmers are taught what is climate change, its effect on agriculture and allied activities, how to adapt to it, water conservation in villages etc,” added Mr. Somasundaram.
