Prolonged dry spell leaves farmers in northern Thoothukudi worried - The HinduPublished - September 13, 2026 08:38 pm IST - THOOTHUKUDIA parched farmland at Melakarandhai in Thoothukudi district. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTThe prolonged scorching weather has left farmers in the northern part of Thoothukudi district increasingly worried about the prospects of cultivation as they are largely dependent on the northeast monsoon.Occasional showers in July and August help them prepare their fields for maize and cotton cultivation, which generally begins in August and September in most areas. However, the weather during the past six months has remained largely dry, further hardening the soil and making ploughing and other preparatory activities difficult, they say.The district has around 1,45,000 hectares of rainfed agriculture lands across the five blocks of the district comprising Ottapidaram, Vilathikulam, Kovilpatti, Kayathar and Pudur. Many farmers generally begin the season with maize and cotton cultivation and subsequently take up pulses and other crops from September to mid-October.With the prospects of rainfall remaining uncertain amid the prevailing El Nino conditions, farmers are reluctant to take up cultivation this year. This comes against the backdrop of poor rainfall last year, which has already caused considerable losses to several farmers.John Kennedy, a farmer from M. Kottur, says many farmers suffered heavy losses last year due to the relatively poor rainfall. “This has made them reluctant to take more risks this year, as they are still recovering from the losses.”Several villages in the northern part of the district are facing drinking water shortage, as most of the water bodies have dried up. “In such a situation, farmers are not in a position to take the risk of investing in cultivation,” he adds.A. Varadharajan, a farmer from Ayanvadamalapuram, says maize and cotton cultivation in the district are usually taken up from western part of Kovilpatti to Ettayapuram to eastern part of Pudur. “However, maize cultivation has not begun in these areas this year, raising concerns over what lies ahead.”He feels there are chances of a decline in cotton and maize production and a corresponding increase in the cultivation of millets and other pulses. Several maize farmers in the district are considering switching to alternative crops during the coming season as the prospects for maize cultivation remain bleak. “The land has now become completely parched, with deep cracks appearing across the fields,” he says.Meanwhile, the district administration is constructing farm ponds on rainfed agricultural lands of 1,000 beneficiaries. But the benefits of the ponds are expected to be realised only from the next season.According to an official, farmers have been trained in cultivation of alternative crops and many are already familiar with such practices. “The construction of farm ponds is also progressing. Once completed, they will help farmers in rainfed areas conserve water even after a single spell of rainfall and use it for agricultural activities,” the official said.Published - September 13, 2026 08:38 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }