Despite normal rainfall from northeast monsoon, Tamil Nadu almost touches paddy coverage target

Tamil Nadu, which experienced a normal northeast monsoon (October-December) in 2025 as against the forecast of above normal rainfall, has almost touched the paddy coverage target during the long-term Samba-Thaladi-Pishanam cultivation season.

Against the overall target of 33.9 lakh acres, the coverage was 33.8 lakh acres, of which around 13 lakh acres was in the Cauvery delta and the rest in the other parts of the State. The five-year-long average for coverage is 34.8 lakh acres. 

Continuous water availability

One of the reasons was the continuous water availability, as the State had received 58 cm of rain during March-September. In fact, in 2025, the summer rainfall was quite heavy: the State recorded 25 cm in March and April, almost double the normal amount. During the southwest monsoon, the rainfall was 33 cm, the expected amount. Though the northeast monsoon yielded only 43 cm against the anticipated 44 cm and four districts alone (Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, and Ranipet) received excess rain, the fairly comfortable groundwater position in general and one more year of Cauvery water surplus in the delta in particular ensured that the major cultivation season went off without hassle. 

As the State experienced a glut in paddy harvest even during the short-term Kuruvai season, the authorities are gearing up for higher arrival in the next couple of weeks, especially after the Pongal festival which falls on January 15. This season, around 14.8 lakh tonnes of paddy was procured against the normal 5 lakh tonnes. In the coming eight months including the lean season, about 38 lakh tonnes more is expected to be procured. During 2024-25, the total quantity of foodgrains procured was about 48 lakh tonnes. 

Incremental demand

With 90 irrigation reservoirs having water three-fourths of the combined capacity, the authorities would be able to meet not only any incremental demand for irrigation but also drinking water requirements. As the Assembly election is due to be held in April-May, water shortage will have cause a major trouble to the party in power. But this possibility seems remote as of now.