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Farmers waging a four-fold battle

ALAPPUZHA: The situation in Kuttanad where thousands of acres of paddy fields were submerged by summer rain over the last few days is turning out to be worse than expected. While initial estimates by the district administration pegged the loss at around Rs.5 crore, unofficial estimates point towards a loss of at least Rs.10 crore.

Farmers in the region, which once went by the sobriquet of Kerala’s Rice Bowl, are now battling at least four threats to save their crop.

One is that of the harvested crop decaying in rainwater while on the other hand, at least 35,000 tonnes of paddy will be lost without even being harvested because water has brought the harvest to a grinding halt.

Another major threat is that of the harvested paddy, which has been collected on the sides of the paddy fields, sprouting. With water turning the fields into marshy, soggy terrains, the possibility of using harvest machines to reap the remaining crop too is becoming distant now.

Moreover, regular failures in power supply have put spokes in the farmers’ efforts to pump water out of the fields. The sudden rise in water level, accentuated by the flow of water from the high ranges into the low-lying Kuttanad, is also threatening to wash away crucial bunds at Neelamperoor, Kavalam, Pulinkunnu and Kainakary.

According to official statistics, the ‘puncha’ cultivation took place in 25,232 hectares in Kuttanad. This was in contrast with the cultivated area of 22,814 hectares last year.

Areas where the harvesting was done before the rain reported a yield of around six tonnes a hectare. However, a major share of the crop is yet to be harvested.

As per Kuttanad’s cultivation calendar for this puncha season, 22,000 tonnes of paddy should have been harvested from March 9 to 16 where the crop will be ready for harvest. However, rain on March 14, 15 and 16 has thrown the entire schedule off track.

The Agriculture Department, going by conservative calculations and initial estimates, warned that if there was no change in the climate, at least 35,000 tonnes, the yield expected from the remaining areas, could be lost, either partially or completely.

Collector V.K. Balakrishnan, who said 25 shutters and four locks of the Thanneermukkom Barrage were opened over the last two days to let rainwater out into the sea, said a meeting to discuss the opening of all the 62 shutters would be held on March 24.

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