season and crop report tamilnadu 2009-10

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The year 2009-10 recorded an
average rainfall of 937.8 mm which was higher
by 2.9 % against the normal rainfall of 911.6
mm. Rainfall was excess in 4 districts, normal
in 24 districts and deficient in 3 districts. The
rainfall was highest (2368.6mm) in the Nilgiris
District and lowest (503.2mm) in Virudhunagar
district. During the North-East Monsoon, the
under forest was at 16.3. % against the ideal
ratio of one third of total geographical area, as
recommended by the National Commission on
Agriculture Cropping intensity, defined as the
ratio between gross sown area and net sown
area stood at 1.139 during 2009-10. It was
highest in Nagapattinam district (1.713) and
lowest in Ramanathapuram district (1.000).
prime mover of agricultural activities in
Tamilnadu, the precipitation in 2009-10 was
found normal in 16 districts, excess in 9
districts and deficient in 6 districts. The
position during South-West Monsoon was also
found satisfactory. One observation worthy to
note is that the quantum and spread was not
uniform across the districts. A disparate trend
is noticed between the four monsoon periods.
It has a direct bearing on the area brought
under the plough and production obtained.
Among sources of irrigation wells
accounted for 55%, followed by canals (26%)
and tanks (18%) of total net area irrigated of
29 lakhs ha. in 2009-10. Net area irrigated
formed 59% of the net sown area. It shows
that the agricultural and allied activities are
monsoon – dependent. Therefore, agriculture
dances to the tune played by the monsoon.
Number of reservoirs varies from one in
Cuddalore district to 13 in Thirunelveli district.
A look at the land use pattern reveals
that the net sown area stood a 37.5 % of
State’s total geographical area of 130 lakh ha,
A perusal of date of opening the
Mettur reservoir, the lifeline of the State’s
agriculture, shows that it was opened more
a tad lower than that of (38.7%) during 2008-
than a month later on July 28 th
against the
09. Area sown more than once and gross
area sown was also a shade higher than that
of during 2008-09. Erode district accounted
for a larger chunk of area (11%) under forest
scheduled opening date of 12 th June of every
year. It had impacted the raising of kuruvai
cultivation in the Cauvery delta regions. The
delay created ripple effects in these regions.
among the districts. The proportion of area
1