‘El Nino may impact kuruvai crop this year’

Trichy: Farmers in Trichy and the Cauvery delta districts with access to fresh groundwater have begun kuruvai paddy cultivation. However, the total area under the short-duration summer paddy crop is expected to shrink this year due to the anticipated impact of a severe El Niño later in 2026."I have started cultivating ADT-59 variety on about 15 acres using groundwater. I am hoping for a decent yield despite the challenges," said V Saminathan, a 60-year-old farmer from Eraharam near Kumbakonam. A senior agriculture department official said kuruvai coverage could decline by around 20% this season. "We expect a reduction due to El Niño, which is likely to bring widespread dry spells, higher temperatures, and overall agricultural disruption," the official said.El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It typically occurs every two to seven years and often leads to drier conditions in parts of India, including weaker monsoons that affect water availability for irrigation.Across the delta districts, officials anticipate that around one lakh hectares out of a total kuruvai target of 1.8 lakh hectares will rely on groundwater in the coming months. In Trichy district, the expected coverage for the entire kuruvai season stands at 5,740 hectares, with about 1,500 hectares manageable through groundwater. Farmers have already started sowing in some areas.In Thanjavur district, cultivation has begun on over 12,000 hectares. The department targets 63,270 hectares overall, with roughly 40% expected to be covered using groundwater. Tiruvarur district has seen sowing on more than 12,000 hectares so far. The full-season target is 61,410 hectares, of which around 55% is planned with groundwater support.Mayiladuthurai district aims to cover its entire target of 31,440 hectares using groundwater, with cultivation already started on around 500 hectares. In Nagapattinam district, kuruvai sowing is yet to commence, though the department expects a total of 23,920 hectares.Farmers remain hopeful of timely water release from Mettur dam, expected around June 12. The groundwater-dependent early sowing reflects farmers' efforts to mitigate risks from delayed surface water and potential climate impacts. The final cultivated area will depend heavily on monsoon and reservoir levels in the weeks ahead.