Northeast monsoon turns out to be a disappointing season so far in Tiruchi district

The northeast monsoon has turned out to be a disappointing season for farmers in Tiruchi district.

The average rainfall of the district stands at 788 mm. Out of four seasons, the northeast monsoon accounts for about 60% of the year’s average rainfall. It receives 427.37 mm from the north-east monsoon between October and December.

The district has so far received just 283.75 mm with three more weeks left for the season. The rainfall was good in October. As against the average rainfall of 169 mm, it recorded 183 mm, which is 14 mm more than the average rainfall of October. However, it recorded just 50% of the average rainfall in November. As against the average rainfall of 187 mm, it received 94 mm. It receives 70 mm in December. It has so far recorded 10 mm.

As far as overall rainfall of the year, the district has so far received 636 mm. It needs 152 mm to equal the average rainfall of the year. With three more weeks left for the season, the agriculture officials hope that the district will match the average rainfall if it gets three to four good rainy days. In December, the district recorded many rainy days in 2024. It registered 201.6 mm as against the normal rainfall of 70 mm, which is 169 mm more than the normal rainfall.

The rainfall during the southwest monsoon from June to September was also not a promising season during the current year. It recorded 196 mm of rainfall against the normal rainfall of 221.77 mm during the season. It was just 12 % less than the normal rainfall.

As far as the summer season from March to May was concerned, the district recorded 143.51 mm against 125.13 mm.

A senior official of the Agriculture Department said that though the northeast monsoon had not been great so far in the district, it had not caused major issues to the standing paddy crop along the Cauvery-irrigated areas due to sufficient supply of water for irrigation along the canals. The impact of poor rainfall in Manapparai, Marungapuri and the neighbouring areas, which were classified as rain-fed cultivable areas, would have to be studied.