Threat from harvester machines: Delta farmers 'skip' rice fallow cultivation

THE application of modern technology in agriculture could be a means to address the manpower shortage in the sector, but the increased use of equipment, particularly paddy harvesters, is making farmers in Tiruchy and other delta districts complain of losing out on the additional income from cultivation of rice fallow pulses.

- D VINCENT AROCKIARAJ @ Tiruchy

Expressing concern that the forced wait for harvester machines to reap paddy will hit cultivation of rice fallow pulses, they demand the introduction of drought- and heat-tolerant varieties of the latter so that they can still look forward to achieving a reasonable yield.

Farmers in the delta districts traditionally cultivate rice fallow pulses like black gram and green gram during January. Rice fallow pulse cultivation involves sowing pulses by broadcasting seeds manually in standing samba paddy fields 7 to 10 days before harvest or dibbling manually immediately after paddy harvesting. The low-cost practice serves as a source of additional income to paddy farmers.