The drought-stricken districts of Tamil Nadu are facing an exacerbating water crisis. Regions like Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai are grappling with severe water shortages. Majority of the reservoirs in these areas are left with only 55% of their capacity, while the Palar River has completely dried up. As a result, farmers are being urged to transition towards cultivating low-water crops. It is crucial for farmers to pivot towards such crops and embrace water conservation techniques to confront this crisis effectively.
The water level in reservoirs in these districts has dropped by up to 55%.
The Palar River, the main source of water for these regions, has also dried up.
The weather department has forecasted temperatures to reach 44 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
The Tamil Nadu Department of Agriculture has advised farmers to cultivate low-water crops such as maize, finger millet, peanuts, wheat, mung beans, and urad beans.
These crops will yield higher returns compared to traditional crops like sugarcane, rice, and bananas.
Farmers have been advised to adopt drip irrigation techniques for water conservation.
Read More... The Causes and Solutions of Declining Groundwater Levels
What Farmers Say: Farmers have expressed their inability to decide on transitioning to new crops. The agriculture department has provided them with information about the benefits of new crops.
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