Annapurna Farm struggles

The dry summer has delayed the start of the paddy season at Annapurna, Auroville’s largest farm. Annapurna’s traditional paddy varieties need a growing season of 140-150 days to mature and are season bound. These varieties are grown since they have a nice taste, are more resilient, and grow well under organic conditions. But if sown out of season (September, October) they will not develop properly. Annapurna is also doing a trial with a paddy variety which was developed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University at the beginning of the eighties, specifically for the conditions prevalent at Annapurna; this variety has a shorter growth duration and is not season bound. Annapurna hopes it will give a bit more breathing space in an erratic season like this year’s.