Southern Zone

The districts covered Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, and Krishnagiri. The climate in this Zone is semi-arid, with hot and limited rainfall during the monsoon season. The annual rainfall was 875 mm. The region has predominantly red and laterite soils, less fertile than alluvial soils. The crops cultivated in this are Rice, Sorghum, Groundnut, Pulses, Millet (Pearl millet, Finger Millet), Cotton, and Gingelly. Plantation crops such as Arecanut, Cocoa, Coconut, and Pepper are grown.

Districts

Geographical area (ha)

Cropped area (ha)

Pudukkottai

4,66,329

1,36,138

Madurai

3,74,173

1,24,213

Theni

3,24,230

1,14,360

Dindigul

6,26,664

2,19,402

Tirunelveli

3,87,606

71,344

Tenkasi

2,88,244

1,24,467

Thoothukudi

4,70,724

2,14,855

Sivagangai

4,18,900

1,01,641

Viruthunagar

4,24,323

1,36,650

Ramanathapuram

4,08,957

1,82,261

Predominant Crop Impact

Base Period (1985-2014)                     Near Century (2021-2050)

All units are in kg per hectare