Leveraging agricultural technologies for flood mitigation in coastal Tamil Nadu: Addressing challenges in agriculture

Flooding exacerbated by cyclones and heavy monsoons has become a significant challenge for agriculture in Tamil Nadu especially in its coastal regions. This study explores the technological mitigation strategies that can help to reduce the adverse impacts of flooding on agriculture. By focusing on flood-induced crop losses, soil erosion and waterlogging, the research emphasizes the need for innovative agricultural technologies to build resilience in farming practices. The study identifies eight TNAU recommended technological solutions to mitigate flooding stress at field level, including bio stimulants, submergence-tolerant rice varieties, salt-tolerant crops, raised bed systems, polyhouse farming and foliar sprays for crop recovery. Through a survey of farmers and extension officials, the study evaluates awareness, acceptance and adoption of these technologies. Findings indicate that while farmers exhibit high awareness and acceptance of traditional mitigation methods, newer technologies face adoption barriers due to financial and knowledge constraints. The study suggests targeted policy interventions, such as financial incentives, extension services and subsidies, to increase adoption rates. Furthermore, it calls for enhanced collaboration between research institutions, government agencies and farmers to foster a more resilient agricultural system capable of coping with flood-related challenges. This research offers actionable insights to help Tamil Nadu’s agricultural sector adapt to increasingly frequent and intense flooding events.