Nagapattinam district faces a severe agricultural crisis with kuruvai paddy production projected to plummet by 96 percent this year. Official forecasts estimate procurement will fall to 5,000 metric tonnes, down sharply from 1.30 lakh metric tonnes last year. This decline is attributed to delayed Mettur Dam water releases, weak rainfall, and saline groundwater.
Cultivation area has shrunk from 30,000 hectares to 1,720 hectares, primarily in the Tirumarugal block, forcing the reduction of Direct Procurement Centres from over 120 to 12. Farmers report widespread crop damage and financial losses due to intense heat and irrigation shortages.
Uncertainty persists regarding the upcoming samba season as the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Protection Association warns that current Mettur Dam releases are insufficient. The association has urged authorities to increase water discharge to at least 22,000 cusecs daily to sustain future farming.