Kerala: A revival package, please

ALAPPUZHA: Farmers in Kuttanad, once the rice-bowl of Kerala, are hoping for the best. For a second time now. The Kuttanad package which made them dream about cultivating, harvesting and earning more when it was presented to them in 2008 may get a rebirth now, if one were to believe the words of Agricultural Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar.

The state government will approach the Centre, which designed and funded the package, with a report on what needs to be done, he said last week after visiting the area and meeting with farmers. The package which had a total outlay of Rs 1,840 crore, got expired in 2013 after spending only Rs 399 crore. But people associated with the project, who include farmers, farmer organisations and officials, are skeptical about the feasibility of the revival promise.

They point out the issues the government will have to address before attempting its revival, safeguarding the spirit of the package which renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan had designed. Dr K G Padmakuamar, director, International Research and Training Centre for Below Sea level Farming, recommends systemic changes in the implementation strategies the government has followed so far.

“The package failed mainly because of lack of coordination,” he said. “Hence, the government should give priority in appointing a special officer with discretionary powers to implement the project. If the government is planning to follow the old system, the result could also be the same.” Fortunately, the government has also realised this factor. The Agriculture minister minced no words when he said the project fell flat because of bad coordination and that he will take steps to identify who was responsible for it. “The package was not launched in a proper way,” the minister has acknowledged.” “There were serious lapses in its implementation, too.”

The package envisaged construction of outer bunds for approximately 37,000 hectares of land in Kuttanad but it could cover only 15,000 hectares so far. And there are complaints galore about the work, too. “The concrete bunds have destroyed the organic nature of the backwaters,” said Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac, who represents Alappuzha constituency.

“They have even affected the cultivation and growth of fish, affecting the livelihood of people.” Dr S Leena Kumari, head of Rice Research Institute, Mankompu, said the concrete bunds weakened the existing ones resulting in increased instances of bund breach. “The government has to ensure that the package properly addresses the issues the region faces instead of going after ready-made solutions.”

Experts also point out that system the Centre government follows to implement packages has also changed. “The Central Government’s funding norms have changed structurally,” said an official associated with the project. “We have not been able to complete even a fraction of the work which we should have completed. We started it off as Rs 1,840 crore project under the irrigation department but later revised it to Rs 4,669 crore. It’s not clear whether the Central government will be willing to take up the project now.”

But Dr Leena Kumari suggests a way out. “We should point out to the Centre that the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 2013 declared Kuttanad as a ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Zone (GIAHZ) and hence it is incumbent on it to help us protect the zone,” she said.

Kuttanad Vikasana Samithy (KVS), a non-governmental organisation which has been championing the cause of the region, says the government must rework the package that includes AC Canal, Thottappally Spillway and 398 significant paddy clusters which were left untouched by the first one. “The first package envisaged 20 per cent funding by the state government but we have learnt from experience that it has no money to spend,” said KVS executive director says Fr. Thomas Peeliyanickal. “So, Kuttanad now needs a project fully funded by the Central government.”

James Joseph, a farmer, says his hopes for a better life were dashed when the package ended up a dud. “The government should take steps to finish the project at least now,” he said. “I do not blame this government or that government but want to see it implemented. It’s up to the government.” Yes, it’s up to the new government.