An integrated climate-resilient paddy cultivation technology developed jointly by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, and Singapore’s Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) has achieved a 20 % increase in crop yield while significantly curbing carbon emissions in the Cauvery delta region, a press statement from TNAU said.
The research outcomes were highlighted at a Climate-Smart Agriculture Field Day and Farmers–Scientists Interaction Meet organized at Paruthikkottai village near Mannargudi in Thiruvarur district. Carried out across 250 acres (100 hectares) over two cropping cycles;the Thaladi (wet) and summer (dry) seasons;the field trials demonstrated a total reduction of 369.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions compared with conventional farming practices.
The technological package integrates Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) water management, a dedicated TNAU–TLL fertilizer cocktail, season-appropriate rice varieties, and a TNAU-developed methanotrophic microbial consortium designed to consume methane directly in waterlogged soils. Researchers noted that the combined system provides dual benefits to farmers by lowering greenhouse gas footprints while enhancing productivity and net farm profitability.
Presiding over the programme, Karthikeyan, Director of the Directorate of Natural Resource Management at TNAU, underlined the imperative for delta farmers to adopt scalable, low-emission technologies to counteract climate variability. Delegates from TLL, including Dr. Srinivasan Ramachandran, Kins Varghese, and Goh Phuay Yee, reiterated the importance of precision water budgeting and biological soil inputs for sustainable food security across the region.
The event, which drew farmers, state agriculture officials, and researchers, also featured presentations on project milestones, soil health management, and field-level adoption by TNAU faculty Davamani, Parameswari, Kalaiselvi, and Janaki, along with Murali Arthanari, Head of the Nammazhvar Organic Farming Research Centre. Thiruvarur Joint Director of Agriculture G. Vidhya and Needamangalam Krishi Vigyan Kendra Programme Coordinator Dhanushkodi addressed the gathering, where local farmers shared their field feedback on input savings and improved crop resilience.
