Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Launches ₹134.83 Crore Package for Paddy Farmers

T.N. CM Vijay Announces ₹134.83 Crore Kuruvai Special Package for Paddy Cultivation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Friday, June 12, 2026, unveiled a ₹134.83 crore Kuruvai Special Package aimed at supporting paddy cultivation in the Cauvery delta districts and other parts of the State. The initiative seeks to protect farmers’ livelihoods amid challenges posed by delayed rainfall and low water levels in the Mettur dam.

Paddy cultivation in Tamil Nadu spans 52.72 lakh acres annually, with 20.65 lakh acres situated in the Cauvery delta region, which includes Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and parts of Cuddalore, Tiruchi, and Ariyalur districts. Of this, an average of 5.14 lakh acres is cultivated during the Kuruvai season. In other districts, paddy is cultivated on 32.07 lakh acres annually, with 5.48 lakh acres dedicated to the Kar, Kuruvai, and Sornavari seasons.

Traditionally, the Mettur dam is opened on June 12 each year to facilitate irrigation for Kuruvai paddy cultivation. However, the India Meteorological Department has forecast below-normal rainfall during the Southwest monsoon due to the El Nino effect, delaying the monsoon and reducing inflow into the dam. Currently, the dam’s water level stands at 79.56 feet, with a storage capacity of 41.52 tmc ft, making it impossible to open the dam on schedule this year.

Given the adverse conditions, the Chief Minister announced the Kuruvai Special Package for 2026. While cultivation on the usual 5 lakh acres in the delta region is unlikely, farming can still be carried out on up to 3.55 lakh acres using filter points. The package also addresses irregular rainfall conditions faced by farmers in other districts.

The allocation under the package includes ₹77.5 crore for delta areas and ₹57.33 crore for other districts. The scheme focuses on mechanisation, improved water management, raising farmers’ incomes, and bolstering food security in the State. Additionally, desilting works covering 2,325 km of C and D channels in the delta districts have been completed at a cost of ₹10 crore.

Further, desilting of 4,971 km of A and B channels is underway by the Water Resources Department at a cost of ₹100 crore, with 97% of the work completed. To support Kuruvai cultivation, 10,714 metric tonnes of paddy seeds and 4.02 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers have been stocked. The government has also assured uninterrupted three-phase power supply for 18 hours daily.

The announcement has drawn criticism from opposition leaders. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami termed the government’s refusal to open the Mettur dam a “huge shock” to farmers and called the ₹134 crore package “disappointing.” He also noted that the duration of power supply to farmers had been reduced from 24 hours under the AIADMK regime to 18 hours currently, citing issues with “undeclared load shedding.”

AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran echoed concerns about erratic power supply and questioned the reliability of the government’s 18-hour power assurance. He also reiterated the demand for a full waiver of crop loans taken by farmers from cooperative societies, a demand supported by the Communist Party of India, an ally of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The Kuruvai Special Package underscores the State government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of delayed monsoon and ensure continued agricultural activity, while facing criticism from opposition leaders and farmer groups. [S1-S11]