Department of Agriculture Tamil Nadu Strategy for Contingency Plan in the Event of Aberrant South West Monsoon Department of Agriculture Tamil Nadu

FORE GROUND Tamilnadu lies in rain shadow region of western ghats during South West Monsoon Most rain fall occurs due to convectional activity. No perennial rivers originates and flows through State & depends on other state for irrigation which depends on SWM 49% of net sown area under rainfed Crux of the problem – Aberrant SWM Results in, less area under crops, low production productivity of crops and under employment

AGRO CLIMATIC ZONES OF TAMIL NADU Sl. No. Agroclimatic Zones Districts covered 1 North Eastern Zone Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Vellore, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai 2 North Western Zone Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem and Namakkal (Part) 3 Western Zone Erode, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Theni, Karur (Part), Namakkal (Part), Dindigul, Perambalur and Ariyalur (Part) 4 Cauvery Delta Zone Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Trichy and parts of - Karur, Ariyalur, Pudukkottai and Cuddalore 5 Southern Zone Madurai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi 6 High Rainfall Zone Kanyakumari 7 Hilly Zone The Nilgiris and Kodaikanal (Dindigul)

Source: Season and Crop Report 2011-12 LAND USE PATTERN Land Area - 4% : Water Resources - 3% : Population - 7% of The Nation Average Rainfall - 930.7 mm – (National Average -1200mm) Geographical area - 130.33 L. ha. Gross area sown - 58.90 L. ha.(42.8%) Net area sown - 49.86 L. ha.(38.3%) Gross Area Irrigated - 35.19 L. ha (60%) Net Area Irrigated - 29.64 L. ha (59%) Rainfed - 20.22 L. ha (41%) No.of land holdings - 81.18 L. Nos. Average size of holding - 0.80 Ha. SF/MF - 92% (operating 58% of the total Land holdings) Other Farmers - 8% (operating 42% of the total land holdings) Source: Season and Crop Report 2011-12

Net Area irrigated : 29.64 L. Ha. ( 59%) SOURCES OF IRRIGATION Net Area irrigated : 29.64 L. Ha. ( 59%) Net Area sown : 49.54 L.Ha.

RAINFALL(in mm) Season 2011 2012 2013 Normal Rainfall Actual Rainfall Dev (%) Winter (Jan – Feb) 31.30 34.80 11 9.50 -70 30.70 34.40 12 Summer (March- May) 127.80 140.00 10 128.00 86.20 -33 92.20 (-)28 South West Monsoon (June – Sep) 321.20 300.50 (-)6 321.30 245.90 -24 321.10 325.40 1 North East Monsoon * (Oct– Dec) 441.20 540.80 23 440.40 370.50 (-)16  440.40  294.30  (-)33 Total 921.50 1016.10 921.00 712.10 (-) 23 920.20  746.30  (-)19 

THE NEED Significant to develop response strategies Organise input mobilisation according to the need Prepare the farmers to face the emerging situation Ensure maximum possible Area under cultivation with crop diversification Food Grain production and productivity fodder Production and productivity rural employment & income Livelihood of SF/MF & farm labourers Attain maximum possible GSDP

Current Status… Contingency plan prepared for all the districts Plans discussed at district level with TNAU scientist and accepted Plans were developed for …. Delay in onset of rains during the season Slow progression during the season Mid Season drought End season drought Deficit rainfall situation Focus on mitigation measures Viz., Creation of water harvesting Structures like Farm ponds Stabilisation of existing farm ponds/ percolation ponds Erecting recharge shafts/ Sub- surface dykes to revitalise aquifers

Crop Contingent Plan Integral Part of Agriculture Objective Minimise reduction in overall agricultural Production caused due to adverse Climatic Condition by selecting appropriate Crop varieties or alternative crops Production technologies in accordance to the temporal and spatial outbreak of Monsoon Four major Components Crop & Varietal use management Technologies for increasing production Technologies for mitigating water stress/ drought situation Input supply management system

Crop & Varietal use Management 7 Agro climatic zones Crop Plan suggested for Normal season Delay in monsoon (2 to 12 weeks) Drought spell Early withdrawal of Monsoon Zonewise Crops and varieties suggested

Technologies for increasing production/mitigating water stress/drought situations Package of practices for each crop Transfer of technologies to the farmers Demonstration Training Distribution of key inputs7 Agro climatic zones Technologies for mitigating water stress/drought situations

Technologies for increasing production/mitigating water stress/drought situations Technologies for mitigating water stress/drought situations Early maturing varieties Addition of organic matter to improve the water holding capacity Selection of short duration, drought resistant and high yielding varieties Using higher seed rate Use of Bio-Fertilisers Potash application for inducing drought resistant Potash spray(2%) for drought tolerance

Action Plan Plan afoot for mass production and distribution of early maturing varieties. Anna 4, a short duration Paddy variety of 90 to 95 days duration. Plan for distribution in drought prone districts Potential yield - 5 tonnes/Ha. Management practices Use of Portable pumps for irrigation Distribution of Pipes Encourage the use of Micro-irrigation equipments Popularisation of PPFM, KCL spray Promotion of SRI Technology Precision Farming for Sugarcane, Horticulture and garden land crops

PPFM spray for inducing drought tolerance Success stories PPFM spray for inducing drought tolerance Method of Application Seed treatment – Imbibe seed in 1.0 % volume for 5-10min (depending on seed). Foliar application - Spray 1.0 % volume. Beneficial effect on plant Fasten seed germination and seedling growth Accelerate vegetative growth Increase leaf area index and chlorophyll content Earliness in flowering, fruit set and maturation Improves fruit quality, color and seed weight Yield increase by 10% Mitigate drought.

PPFM spray for inducing drought tolerance

Effect of convergence achieved in Namakkal district

Effect of convergence achieved in Thiruvarur district

Effect of convergence achieved in Nagapattinam district

Use of Micro Irrigation Equipments Pipe line & Raingun Boomsprayer

FARM CROP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FCMS) VOICE ADVISORY Voice Advisory Milestones in FCMS 67 lakhs farmers baseline information collected 66 lakhs individual soil samples analysed and results declared Individual farm-wise crop Plan developed for 6 pilot districts FIHB distributed to 45lakh farmers 1.63 crore agro voice advisories delivered 10.65 crores customised and location specific text SMS on technology scheme, weather forecast and market trend given to farmers – Pushed by Block Level Extension Functionaries - Text SMS Tamil Nadu – 10,64,66,859 Stand first at all India Level

EXPECTED BENEFITS Ensure maximum cropped area Increase in ground water table and quality of irrigation water Irrigation opportunities after post monsoon Stabilise production and productivity Ensure Rural employment Stablise income of SC/ST farmers and Small and Marginal farmers

THANKS