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

2. 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

3. 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)

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

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

6. 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
921.00
712.10
(-) 23
920.20 
746.30 
(-)19 

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. PPFM spray for inducing drought tolerance

16. Effect of convergence achieved in Namakkal district

17. Effect of convergence achieved in Thiruvarur district

18. Effect of convergence achieved in Nagapattinam district

19. Use of Micro Irrigation Equipments
Pipe line & Raingun
Boomsprayer

20. 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

21. 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

22. THANKS