Farmers begin Samba sowing

Farmers in Thanjavur delta district have entered their fields this year hoping for a good harvest in the forthcoming Samba cultivation.

After the much celebrated release of water from the Grand Anicut on Saturday, farmers near Thanjavur town have begun preparatory works for sowing paddy under the direct sowing method. The Grand Anicut canal is receiving around 2,000 cusecs and will irrigate around 24,000 acre along its course through various irrigation sub channels and smaller canals. As on Saturday, water level in the Mettur Stanley Reservoir stood at 83.23 feet with an inflow of 8,305 cusec and around 13,000 cusec is being released for Samba cultivation. Meanwhile, from Grand Anicut, around 5,000 cusec is being released into Vennar and Cauvery and around 2,017 cusec is released into Grand Anicut Canal with another 1,002 cusec into Kollidam.

Rajaram, president of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, said, “The water release from Mettur has raised hopes among the delta farmers in the region.”

The sudden decline in the inflow of water from KRS and Kabini in Karnataka on Friday had increased concern among the farmers in the delta region.