Thanjavur Kaveri Delta Rice Paddy Agriculture Tamil Nadu

The Kaveri delta district of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu is one of India oldest and most productive rice-growing regions, earning the title granary of South India. Samba, Kuruvai, and Thaladi paddy varieties cultivated across the deltaic alluvial plains of the river Kaveri have sustained the Chola civilisation and fed South India for over two thousand years. Farmers in Thanjavur district cultivate both kuruvai short-duration varieties harvested in August and samba long-duration varieties harvested in January using traditional transplanting methods and modern SRI technique. The district cooperative federation procures paddy from member farmers at minimum support price and operates rice mills supplying PDS rice to Tamil Nadu. The annual Pongal harvest festival in January celebrates the first rice harvest with newly boiled pongal rice cooked in clay pots. The Thanjavur district also produces banana, sugarcane, and betel vine alongside rice, forming part of the multi-crop delta economy.