CM Announces Rs 134.83 Crore Kuruvai Special Package Scheme as Mettur Dam Opening Deferred

Press Release "Kuruvai Special Package Scheme – 2026, worth Rs.134.83 crore, in Delta and non-Delta districts to promote Kuruvai paddy cultivation" Announcement by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay Paddy cultivation in Tamil Nadu plays a vital role in the State's food security and in farmers' livelihoods. In particular, to promote paddy cultivation undertaken during the Kuruvai, Kar and Sornavari seasons in the Cauvery Delta districts and non-Delta districts, and to raise paddy production and productivity, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay, has announced that a Kuruvai Special Package Scheme worth Rs.134.83 crore will be implemented in 2026. Paddy is cultivated in Tamil Nadu on an average area of 52.72 lakh acres. Of this, paddy is the predominant crop across all parts of the Cauvery Delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai, and in some parts of Cuddalore, Tiruchirappalli and Ariyalur districts. In the Delta districts, paddy is cultivated annually over 20.65 lakh acres, of which about 5.14 lakh acres on average is cultivated during the Kuruvai season alone. In the non-Delta districts, paddy is cultivated annually over 32.07 lakh acres, of which about 5.48 lakh acres on average is cultivated during the Kar/Kuruvai/Sornavari seasons alone. Every year, the Mettur Dam is customarily opened on June 12 to enable Kuruvai paddy cultivation in the Delta districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and parts of Cuddalore, Tiruchirappalli and Ariyalur. In this context, the India Meteorological Department has forecast that rainfall during the south-west monsoon will be less than 90% of normal due to the 'El Nino' phenomenon. With the south-west monsoon currently delayed, inflow into the Mettur Dam remains low. As a result, the water level in the Mettur Dam currently stands at only 79.56 feet (storage: 41.52 TMC). Hence, there is no possibility of opening the Mettur Dam today (June 12). Consequently, the prospects of cultivating the 5 lakh acres normally under paddy in the Cauvery Delta districts are greatly reduced. However, since up to 3.55 lakh acres can be cultivated in the Delta districts through filter point wells, and since rainfall is currently irregular in the non-Delta districts, the Hon'ble Chief Minister has today announced that, in order to protect farmers' livelihoods, encourage paddy cultivation during the Kar/Kuruvai/Sornavari seasons, increase paddy production and benefit farmers, the Kuruvai Special Package Scheme for 2026 will be implemented. Accordingly, the scheme will be implemented at a total estimated cost of Rs.134.83 crore, comprising an allocation of Rs.77.50 crore to encourage farmers cultivating Kuruvai in the Delta districts using filter point wells, and Rs.57.33 crore to encourage Kar, Kuruvai and Sornavari paddy cultivation in non-Delta districts, aimed at improving farmers' livelihoods. Under this scheme, the Rs.134.83 crore allocation will cover incentives for machine transplantation/System of Rice Intensification (SRI) paddy sowing, bio-fertilizers, micronutrient fertilizer mixtures for paddy, subsidy for distribution of certified seed paddy, and incentives for production of certified seeds of newly released paddy varieties, in both Delta and non-Delta districts, the Hon'ble Chief Minister announced. The scheme will promote mechanisation and improve water management. Through the use of quality seeds and technology, the area, production and productivity of paddy cultivation will increase, raising farmers' incomes and strengthening the State's food security. Further, through the Agricultural Engineering Department, 2,325 km of C and D channels in the Delta districts have been desilted at a cost of Rs.10 crore. Also, desilting of 4,971 km of A and B channels has been taken up through the Water Resources Department at a cost of Rs.100 crore, of which 97% of the work has been completed so far. Additionally, 10,714 metric tonnes of paddy seeds and 4.02 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers have been stocked for Kuruvai cultivation. Uninterrupted three-phase power supply for 18 hours a day will also be provided for the benefit of farmers. The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay, has therefore requested farmers in both Delta and non-Delta districts to avail themselves of the assistance provided under the Kuruvai Special Package Scheme. Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9