Rain deficit leaves paddy farmers on edge

The ongoing lack of rainfall, coupled with a prolonged dry spell, has left paddy farmers in Thrissur feeling anxious about the future of their crops. Tom Kiran, a young farmer from Velukkara panchayat, expressed concern that water levels in several paddy fields are already falling to a minimum, potentially jeopardizing the upcoming planting season.

Velukkara is home to 500 acres of paddy fields cultivated by 12 paddy societies, with farmers growing increasingly worried as the monsoon shows no signs of arriving. Even fields with already planted seedlings are facing water shortages, putting the plants at risk of drying up. Organic farmer Sreeja from Arangottukara noted the same trend, warning that the shortage of water in the fields could have severe consequences for the newly planted seedlings.

The dry spell has arrived at a critical juncture, as most paddy fields have completed initial land preparation and are now in the process of planting seedlings. However, with the monsoon expected to withdraw by the end of the month, farmers are eagerly awaiting the northeast monsoon, or Thulavarsham, to replenish water levels. The uncertainty surrounding the monsoon's arrival is compounded by the fact that two consecutive years of adverse weather conditions have severely impacted paddy cultivation, forcing some farmers to replant their seedlings multiple times.

This time, many farmers had to purchase seedlings, significantly increasing labor and cultivation costs. Despite these challenges, the harvest from the previous season remained poor, and many farmers are still waiting for insurance claim reimbursements. Added to these concerns is the steep rise in fertilizer prices, which have increased by over 50% in the past year.

This price surge, combined with declining water levels in dams, poses a significant threat to irrigation efforts in the coming weeks. Thrissur-Ponnani Kole fields, where around 30,000 farmers cultivate paddy on nearly 13,000 hectares, are in the crucial planting stage. Farmers warn that a prolonged dry spell could turn the coming weeks into a critical period for the paddy crop.