Tamil Nadu farmers demand drought relief for Cauvery Delta

Farmers in the Cauvery Delta of Tamil Nadu are calling on the state government to declare the region drought-hit due to the aggravating effects of El Niño and delayed water releases from the Mettur reservoir. The failure of the kuruvai cultivation season has led to a significant reduction in acreage, with an estimated loss of 5 lakh MT of paddy production.

The Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association has requested a special package for the samba cultivation season. They are advocating for an increase in compensation from the current Rs 4,000 per acre to Rs 8,000 per acre to cover rising input and fertilizer costs.

Climate experts are urging the government to establish a standard operating procedure (SOP) for drought management and water conservation. Recommendations include restoring water bodies, preventing encroachments, and encouraging farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to drought-tolerant crops like pulses to adapt to depleted groundwater levels.