Could the Cauvery delta farmers possibly get back to double paddy cropping even when the river runs dry? Yes, going by a recent attempt by a farmer supported by Jain Irrigation Systems.

“I ensured the paddy crop goes through a peak summer season by sowing in March just to prove to myself that drip irrigation will see it through to a successful harvest,” says V Ravichandran, a progressive farmer in Poongulam village, Tiruvarur District.

He has cultivated CO51, a paddy variety, from the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University; and Arize Nano, a hybrid from Bayer.

Earlier this week, as we stood on the edge of the rice field ready for harvest, the contrast with a conventional paddy field was obvious. There was none of the usual slush and water logging. The soil was dry, except for some dampness.

The cropping routine was developed by the irrigation company a few years back but now it has come into its own, believes S Narayanan, Senior Vice-President, Jain Irrigation Systems. Increasing exploitation of groundwater, shortage due to drought in recent years, government support for drip irrigation have helped it gain acceptance. State governments are also encouraging, he says.

Ravichandran points out just five years back groundwater was available at about 45 feet. But now it has dropped to 175–200 ft and that means water is also more saline in the village. Flooding the field with such water is in itself bad for the soil.

It has been a few years since paddy farmers in the delta have been able to cultivate the summer paddy, `kuruvai’, because of the water shortage. But drip irrigation now makes it possible, he feels.

After the initial trial over a one-acre plot, he is willing to extend the area in the coming summer. In the intervening period he can opt for a pulses crop followed by the long season `samba’ paddy supported by the North East monsoon. This means he can cultivate his land through the year. Also, the water conserved and power savings are a huge help, he says.

P Soman, chief agronomist with the irrigation company, says traditional paddy cultivation uses up to 95 lakh litres water per season.

But with drip irrigation water use is down to about one-third. Paddy output increases by about 700-800 kg to 3.8 tonnes an acre and electricity consumption over 110 days drops to about 260 units from about 460 units.

The total initial cost is about ₹40,000 an acre, according to officials.

Andhra Pradesh has initiated major drip irrigation projects over 1,000 acres with Jain Irrigation handling 500 acres and Karnataka has also initiated projects on a similar scale. Tamil Nadu needs to step up coverage in paddy by extending the subsidy generally available for other crops, officials said.

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