In Tamil Nadu, the biggest consumer of water is agriculture followed by manufacturing industries and domestic consumption. Though Tamil Nadu is blessed with rainfall, river basins and groundwater resources, the demand for more water keeps shooting up year after year.

1. Need for Lean-water Farming and Dates
Cultivation
In Tamil Nadu, the biggest consumer of water is agriculture
followed by manufacturing industries and domestic consumption.
Though Tamil Nadu is blessed with rainfall, river basins and
groundwater resources, the demand for more water keeps
shooting up year after year.
Statistical information pertaining to availability of water in TN
for agriculture operations.
1. Water sources map of Tamil Nadu: Canals – 29.2%, tanks 21.3%
and bore wells 48.9%. This clearly indicates that there is major
crisis awaiting us as water table goes down.
2. Area under canal irrigation is almost stagnant with 8.5 hectares
under this system. This again indicates there is a severe water
shortage preventing expansion.
3. Urbanization has resulted in higher demand for water in Tamil
Nadu. It is estimated that by 2050, Tamil Nadu’s water demand
for non-agricultural purpose will peak at 3460 MCM.

2. The state of TN is already embroiled in problems with
neighbouring states over river water sharing and thus making it
almost impossible to even sustain its current pattern of crop
cultivation. Groundwater exploitation is at its hilt and more
than 90% is already exploited. Therefore the only option open to
Tamil Nadu is to go for agricultural activities like dates cultivation
in Coimbatore. The advantage is it consumes less water and
brings more value to its farmers.
Reasons to Adopt Lean-water Crops in Tamil Nadu
The major crop of Tamil Nadu is paddy which is a water-intensive
agricultural activity next only to sugarcane cultivation in
Coimbatore that uses no less than 2,000 litres for water for
every kilogram of sugar produced. Here below is a rough
approximation of rain fall requirements for other crops:
Figures are in mm of rainfall
Rice: 900 – 2500
Wheat: 450 – 650
Sugarcane: 1500 – 2500
Cotton: 700 – 1300
Banana: 1200 – 2200
Grape: 500 -1200
Besides the huge requirement for water, there is also the problem
related to wheeling water over long distances, loss in transit and
the enormous energy it takes. Lean-water crops like Barhi dates
farming use very little water and are amenable to drip irrigation
technology. It is a win-win situation for all stake holders.

3. To manage water distribution and consumption more wisely, the
state’s farmers should explore other crops that require less water
and are amenable to drip farming. The success of date cultivation
in Coimbatore has proved that it is indeed possible for many
farmers in the state to turn towards crops that can survive with
lesser water.
It is not our intention to say that farmers in Tamil Nadu should
give up paddy cultivation or other food grain crops; they are
essential, but farmers who want to expand their agricultural crop
mix should consider produces like dates that consume less water
and bring in more revenues and also require less attention. One
of the crops that has shown great promises is dates cultivation in
Coimbatore. It is interesting to note that dates cultivation in
Coimbatore is attracting corporate businesses towards this
activity.
Realty and Role of Corporate Companies in Lean-water
Farming
The entry of corporate sector in date cultivation in
Coimbatore is a major success story that can be emulated all
over the state. Corporate companies are able to achieve this
because they are able to convert barren lands without water
sources into cultivable farms using just a fraction of water that is
otherwise required. Realty farming, though a new concept is
taking shape in the state and the choicest activity is cash crop
that require less water.

4. Under the realty farming concept, corporate companies invest
money in buying barren land and creating the infrastructure and
making them into saleable small-sized farms. The important point
to note is that they are able to adopt modern technologies, create
a common water source and sell products at best price. The most
important aspect is they are able to create the water source
and distribute costs across multiple owners. This encourages
more people to join the farming community.