What does the Media say?

What the media says ?


Mathrubhoomi

19.10.2009. page 1.

About the “Everyone to the field “programme of the Kerala Government and how it

became a failure.

The first seeds for this project were sown in the Thiruvananthapuram District ,in the

fields of Mankilikkara and Melankode.That date was on January 14th and the chief

Minister himself took the farmers to the fields in the presence of his ministers and

M.L.As .After 10 months ,the paddy was taken and it was given to Supply co 6 months

back. The farmers who took loans to do the project has not got the cost of that paddy

given to the Supplyco.The farmers do not ask for any favor except the cost of the paddy

given to the Government –run Supply co.

Where was the mistake ?

1.The agricultural operation started at the incorrect time.

2.The seeds given by Kerala Agricultural department was not suitable.

3.Therefore the seeds of “Kanchana”had to be brought from outside. For this 141

Members of legislative assembly members gave 1000 Rs each amounting to

1,41000.With this 5 hectares each of fields in Mankilikara and Melankode were

cultivated.

4.For reaping there were no people .Nor were there any Ministers or MLAs
.
5.Without labourers,the farmers wanted a Reaping machine. This was not available.

6.By that time the summer rains came .And the paddy in the fields fell to one side.

7.Without any other option, the farmers took the old sickle themselves and turned to

laborers (This alone is what I think a co-operative and sensible decision. They could

have done this before the summer rains without waiting for the Government support )

8.When the difficulties of the farmers became news in the media, the District asked the

panchayath to allot a reaping machine.

9.In Mankilikkara the farmers had to give 370 Para paddy for the cost of reaping alone.

10.In Melankode panchayath ,the officers of the Agricultural department gave 53000 Rs

in their own capacity.

11 .Though there had been ample advice from Agricultural department and their

concentrated effort and the farmers obedience was there ,the expected production of

paddy did not happen due to all these reasons.

12.The expected production was 2000 Kg per Acre. The actual product was a mean of

1200 Kg only .

13.The saddest part is that when the farmers told about their loss ,the Agricultural

department did not believe .But they took it as a challenge and to prove that agriculture

can be made a gain they directly did it in 50 cent of fields under Asst Director Mini K

Raja .They had an expenditure of Rs 11800 Rs .The Gain after selling the product was

8200 Rs .The loss was 3600 Rs.

14.The similar project under Agricultural officer Chithra in Kalliyur ,by three

departmental staff in 85 cents of fields was a greater loss. By these two experiments the

Agricultural department understood that the farmers were honest.

In the 4th page of the same newspaper there is an interesting dialogue between a minister

and a Agricultural officer.

Min:-There are numerous Agricultural officers here .One cannot walk without brushing

against them. What are all these people and the Agricultural Uty doing ?We should get
about 25-30 meni from one Hectare and what we get is only 10-12 meni.If this much only

is the production I would not have asked the farmers to do a second pooval.

(This dialogue happened in the Trichur Kol Krishi Yoga and the concerned Minister was

Mullakara Rathnakara).

Agricultural officer:-In the first pooval there had been good production. The reason for

the first high production is the ekkal which has been deposited during the rainy

season.This is not available in the second pooval.Therefore ,naturally the productivity

will be less.

Mini:-That means ,even now,the basis for agricultural is Prakrithi itself .My question is

what you scientists did to increase its productivity ?

In 1961-62 from 7.53 lakh hectares of fields Kerala had produced 12.08 lakhs tons of

paddy. In 2007-2008 from 2.83 lakhs hectares of fields 6.50 lakh tons of paddy .And 80 %

of what Kerala needs is now being purchased from outside.

The column says that the cost of production and the cost of the produce does not balance

is the problem of the Kerala agriculture.(The real reason for this is not analyzed ).

Mooriyad and Kunjan Pulayan:- Kunjan Pulayan ,V.V ayyappan and Vargheese

Thoduparambil ,Madayikkonam Raju are among the 10000 farmers of Mooriyad

Mekhala.The pattern from the time of Sakthan Thamburan was through canal irrigation

for entire Mooriyad area of 11000 Acres. This existed till 1984.In 1984 ,a new bund and

bridge was created by the Kerala Government and for that they brought sand but no canal

was made .By this process the fields are now under water just by a single rain and

became uncultiviable.The fields which were useless became places for making

bricks. Now only 7000 Acres remain. The farmers want their farming operations and their

fields back so that they can live in self-sufficient style of food production as before. In the

battle between the Farmer and government ,Government agreed to some plans but the

promises were not fulfilled by the successive officers de to various reasons. After 25 years

,the paddy in the fields are under water with the first rains. The 80 lakhs which the Govt

had allotted for Mooriyad reformation has been lapse .Raja the farmer has 70000 Rs as

debt in agricultural operations .He says ,before the Government say “Everyone to the

fields ,they should see the 10000 farmers here who wants to go to the fields”.Varghese

Thoduparambil asks:- The Government and officials who cannot make profit from 7000

acre of fields ,can protect the 2.76 lakhs hectare of paddy fields in Kerala is impossible”.

All the operations which the Government had done after destroying the canals of Sakthan

Thamburan ,to improve the Trichur Kol Mekhala had been failures and detrimental to the

agriculture of the area.Vellayani fields and its loss of agriculture is pointed out as an

example. According to K.K.koduMuhammad (Secretary Trichur Kol Krishi

Sahakaranasamgham)unless the cost of paddy is revised according to the times ,the paddy

farmer can withstand all unfavorable situations. This is proved by the words of Dr

P.Yagin Thomas ,statistics department of Kerala Uty..An agricultural laborer gets a

mean 600 Rs per month in 1983 and 2003 it is mean 6000 Rs.It is a 10 times increase.But

the cost of rice in this 10 yr period is 274 % or 2.75 times only. In the beginning of 1980s

for one Kg paddy the cost was 50 paisa and the amount a laborer got was 5 Rs according

to kol farmers of Trichur.In 2009 the cost of paddy is 12 Rs and the agricultural laborer

has to be paid Rs 350.

The production of paddy in Kuttanad is 5 tones/hectare .For each ton 11000 Rs and for 5

tons Rs 55000 is the gain.

Preparation of field,kummayam,sowing,fertilizers,removing other grass etc,pest control,

and all the other production operations need Rs 19000.Balance 36000 Rs.This is for the

person who has the field for himself. After the pattakkoli ,for those who do not own the

field ,the gain is even less. Half of the farmers are now such paattam farmers and not

owners. For one hectare paattakooli is from 17500-30000 Rs.Paattakrishi people are

agricultural laborers.

The mean production of Trichur Kol fields is 2 tons per Acre. According to current price

of paddy the gain is 22000 Rs /Acre.

Ploughing(600),making varambu(600)Sowing(300)Cost of

seed(850)fertilizer(2500)Pullumarunnu(1600)protection of

plant(800)Reaping(2000)Transportation(8000 and total expenditure is Rs 10000 .The

gain is thus only Rs 12000.This is much less for a paattam krishikaaran.Most of the

farmers in Trichur Kol mekhala is having only less than I acre land .(What is the reason

for this ?This is not analyzed by the article )

In Palghat district are the most number of farmers and the condition is the same. The only

difference is in the expenditure of labour.Here the cost of labor is much less .By the

advent of the Thozhilurappy programme that is fast changing. Unless the cost of paddy is

increased to at least Rs 20 ,the farmer will never be out of debts is the view of

C.K.Ramachandran ,the awardee of Nelkathir Puraskara.

Oct 20 Tuesday 2009.page 4:-

Only if the seed is good there will be sprouting .The seed given by the state seed

authority does not sprout. It has become a common feature. In this August ,in Trichur

Vadakkanchery this was repeated. The seed given was “Uma”to the model production

project Gaalasa and the seed which was wetted to sprout remained as such .Trichur Kol

fields in Arimbur and Jubily padavu this repeated. Therefore farmers had to purchase

seeds from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Till 20 yrs ago there were two pooval farming in Trichur Kol fields .The first pooval is

with sowing seeds in the land and then making Njaaru(new plants)and this is called

Njaattadi.Now the availability of land for making njattu planting is less due to

construction works and filling of njattu fields and also due to lack of awareness of how to

do this among the new generation farmers. The first pooval is sowing in September and

reaping in December. The second pooval is sown in January and reaped in April.

The mattathriveni,annapoorna seeds are not available now. Both agricultural university

and the seed authority do not know about the problem of seeds when farmers raise the

problem in common meetings .The farmer with his individual facilities can do only one

pooval farming. The second pooval gives the food protection of the state. The seed and

fertilizer has to be given by the state if this has to be carried out. The reaping machine

should be made available in time. The reaping machine from Tamil Nadu is brought at a

rate of Rs 2000 per hour rent. Even for one pooval the farmers are running around for

laborers and for machines. The Government promised to give 20 machines and this

promise has not materialized.

In Kuttanad 1.10 lakh hectares paddy cultivation is there.6 lakhs farmers depend upon

agriculture alone for livelihood there. In the 90’s the productivity was 2.24 per hectare

and now it is 4.5 ton. That is a positive sign. But this productivity is not pertaining to

paddy alone. Paddy cultivation has declined vertically since the last two decades. These

areas depend on nature for cultivation .The problem of labor is severe in Kuttanad.In

1991 there were 11.3 farmers and 57.13 agricultural laborers in Kuttanad.Now the

agricultural laborers have reduced to 1/3rd.Machines are required for all agricultural

operations because of lack of agricultural labourers.In Kuttanaad 35000 laborers are

needed for reaping but there are only 10000 now. And the use of machines was suspended

by the party of these labourers.This increased food problem and lead to rebellion.Now the

labor unions are slowly understanding that either machines should be used or ,the

number of agricultural laborers should be increased. If both are not permitted how can

the agriculture be carried out and the food problem of the people be solved ?The owners

of farms are now giving their fields for paattam .It is by these circumstances the majority

of Kuttanad became paattabhoomi.

The storage facilities should be looked into. If the reaped paddy is immediately not

stored it will sprout and become useless. The collected rice has to be given its price

immediately to solve problems of the farmers. The farmers have to wait for 3 to 4

months or longer to get their due .In Trichur Adaat farmers bank used to purchase paddy

in the fields itself and pay the farmer in the field itself. But after that when Suplyco came

the story became grave. For quickening the payment co-operative societies were activated

and Government induced interest-less loan schemes through them. That is not success in

many places. Though in word 80 % of the cost of paddy is to be given as loan ,without

interest ,this time several co-operative societies did take the interest .

A model was created by Palghat co-operative bank .they gave interest-free loan to

farmers and its project for storage of paddy became a model for entire state. In 2009-10

economic year the bank gave 25 crore Rs for the first pooval .The loan was given through

the primary co-operative banks. For one pooval the maximum of 50000 Rs will be given

as loan. The time for repayment is 6 months. If not possible to pay by that period ,a

interest of 7 % is taken. The farmers who take the loan gets insurance protection by

National Insurance company and the premium is paid by the bank and not by farmer. For

those who give back the loan in time a second loan for a second pooval is given. Even if

supply co fails to give the cost of paddy in time ,if one shows the receipt of having given

the paddy to the supply co the 80 % promised of the cost of paddy was given by the bank

and in that way the Palghat Bank showed a model to the state. By the interest-free loan

distribution paddy cultivation increased in 4500 hectares more and production increased

from 2.19 lakh ton to 2.5 lakh ton. This is recorded in the data of the bank.

After paddy cultivation when the fields are immersed in water doing a organic fish

farming ,especially prawn etc is a way of livelihood for farmers. From 10 acres within 8

months 4.85 Rs worth prawns are cultivated according to Kuttanad development

authority Executive Director Fr Thmas Peeliyaani.From the same field per Acre 2 tons

paddy is also available .Since this is organic paddy the cost is 15 Rs per Kg.For one acre

30000 Rs .Reducing the cost of production from this(Rs 18000)the gain is 12000 for the

farmer. In a experimental basis fish and prawn were cultivated in 50 acres of land this

year.

Kuttanaad Package:- 1840 crore Rs is promised for Kuttanad package. The Central

ministry gave the permission but after 13 months ,it has not been sanctioned by State

Govt.This package was recommended by Swami Nathan committee. The first complaint by

the state was that the center is not sanctioning it and when it was sanctioned the

complaint was that the center is taking vengeance on state. The chief minister said 75 %

of sanctioned amount has to be taken by State Govt and that is a vengeance by the center

on state .The opposition party said that below 5 crores is the share of state Government

and the rest is central share .This argument went on while the farmers were suffering the

damage to their paddy fields and their food ,after the summer rains of 2008 March. To

have the package done successfully the different departments like

agriculture,irrigation,revenue,industry,tourism and forestry has to co-operate as a

team. But the problem is that such a co-operation is not there in the ministry or

departments. The Prosperity committee under chief minister continues as a decorative

committee. The advice to make a committee under chief secretary is not fulfilled. Now

everything is done by a high official in Agricultural department and a official in

deputation from the forestry department.276.5 crores project was submitted and 50 crore

was sanctioned .Of this the break up is ,

4.91 crore for production of seeds (seed authority)

50 lakh for forestation of Paathiraamanal island ( To department of finance )

12 crore for Onaattukara paddy cultivation development

4.5 crore for farming of Ellu(gingili)

18 crore for machinery

15 crores for fishery and animal husbandry

The irrigation department is in the process of making their own project for 1100 crores

85 crores for development of coconut farming and 27.3 crore for vegetable farming is

allotted.

The package has no participation from the people .though the regional participation is

needed it has not been sought for.

The same day on page 6 we find the news of the wetlands of Mananthawady being

converted to construction sites by real estate people. Saying that paddy farming is not cost

effective first to cash crops and then to filling of farmlands for construction work is the

trend that we see here .For a person without a house, for the sake of constructing a house a

maximum of 5 cent of field was allowed to be filled .But this law is being misused for

major construction projects. In Thirunelli resort construction is being done at the expense

of fields. The biodiversity areas of ecological importance are thus being rapidly

destroyed. the wetlands near Panamaram puzha has to be protected and for that the people

had approached concerned officials .This is a tributary of Kabani river. There are several

sites of breeding of cranes in these wetlands .Influencing people like Panchayath

secretary, Agricultural officers and representatives of farmers etc who are in the field

protection samithi,such atrocities are being done. The custom of making use of the

samithy for easy availability of sanction for construction work is increasing in north

Wynad .the first process is to plant coconut and betel nut tree ands make the field look like

a garden land and then get sanction.

In Eramangalam Canoli canal remains of butchery, of chicken ,from hotel and cool bar

,barber shop has become a health problem and the nearby wells and tanks also has

pollution of water .Jaundice,Typhoid,Ratfever etc are more if this continues and such

cases have been reported from Veliyankode,eramangalam .Perumpadappu block P.H.C

Co-coordinator Skaria is reporting such cases and health department is seeking help from

police to prevent pollution of the canal.

In chittoor the first pooval was lost in monsoon floods but no help was given by

Government .The reason was if in a limit of one Krishibhavan ,25 acre of paddy is lost

,then only that part is considered as suffering from flood problem .This did not exceed the

amount so defined and farmers lost the help from Government. The farmers of Nalleppilly

also expected the help but in vain. In kuttippallam,kuppayyan

challa,koundankulam,Nalleppilli ,kanakkampaara areas due to rains the njattadi were

submerged and destroyed. Village officer and Krishi officer has to give a report after

visiting the area of loss. The farmers took them there and gave the request for help. The

vehicle charge paid by the farmers was lost. The agricultural department said that only

those requests of farmers where the amount of loss is as defined by the government

should be included in the Prakrithikshobha durithaswasa project. The societies of farmers

of the area are thus rebellious to the department. The Karshaka congress Chittoor block

committee has asked for relief for all farmers who have suffered the loss whether it is

under the defined parameters of krishi department or not .

Page 8 of the same day reports a positive agricultural picture from Raajaakkad

Raajakmaari panchayath.This area had changed its pattern of farming to Elam and

vegetables like plantains and sugarcane and cattle feed grasses from paddy .Now it is

returning back to traditional paddy cultivation. This is due to co-operative efforts of the

panchayath.There had been about 560 acres of fields with two pooval farming here.the

change in climate,lack of labourers,lack of production were reasons for the change to

cash crops earlier. By this paddy fields decreased to 90 acres .when awareness of ecology

problems ,water problems and food problems came ,under the leadership of Panchayath

president P.Ravi people started to come back to paddy cultivation.Lst year the help for

buying seeds and fertilizers was provided. By the job availability project ,the canals were

cleaned and water for irrigation was enough. New irrigation tanks were made .In dry areas

plastic water conservation and storage facilities provided for collecting rain water All

these could reduce water problems and now the area is again 500 acres of paddy farming

.The main fields

Of Kumbhappaara,Manjakkuzhi,Njerippaalam,Kooraappaallipady.Mullan

thandu,Kulappaarachaal,Kuravila city ,Rajakumari,Kandathil paalam are now getting the

facilities of the project. Help for ploughing,buying seeds and for reaping ,and buying

machines for reaping etc are under the project plan .The roads were constructed to the

fields so that traffic for the reaped paddy is easy. Same day on page 7 we find that the loss

by the state Governments Thozhilurappu podiatry per year is 3.65 crore Rupees (report

from Kasarkod)and destruction of Kandal forests and wetlands by a private person for

prawn farming was prevented by the forest department in Payyannur Kunjimangalam

Changurichaalil .The prawn bund was being constructed using J.C.B by the private

person .

In Kalyasseri the first pooval was done and majority was pathiru and this was more in

fields were the high productive seeds like Uma and Aiswarya was sown.3/4th of paddy

had no seed in it when reaped and was only pathiru.There was worm infestation also

.Kalyasseri,Morazha,Paappinisseri areas have extensive Mundaka farming .The first

pooval was done in between that .The seeds were given by krishibhavan .The farmers

did not get even 20 % of the total expenditure on their farming operations.

October 21 Wednesday 2009. page 4.

About coconut gardens according to Skaria pillai of Nallepilly ,the maximum yield from

a garden is mean 100 coconuts .And the mean for the state is only 30 ,Nallepilly being

the best coconut garden in the state. Even if we take that 100 coconuts as mean

production and 80 trees per acre the maximum per year is 8000 nuts .With cost of three

Rs for one nut it is 24000 Rs.In an year one can take 8 times coconut produce.

The kooli for climbing :-8-10

Kooli for cutting coconut-5000

Kooli for chumad and pothikkal ,fertilizer,watering,and kila etc make 12000 -15000

expenditure .And thus one years gain is only 10000 Rs .The farmers of kerala are only

such namesake farmers who get not more than 10000 Rs per year. therefore to live with

coconut farming alone is out of question. From June 1 to December the demand for tender

coconut is less .In other seasons it is better to sell tender coconuts which give more value

than mature nuts. The coconut farmers do interim produce in their gardens and live with

that .The people who give the trees for liquor production also has gains. In Chittor and

Anthikkad this has happened .But in Anthikat the disease of the coconut tops affected the

process. For a tree given to liquor production every year Rs 1200 or more is obtained but

this is only for a few farmers. This is three times gain more than selling mature

coconuts. The interim farming is done with nutmeg ,cocoa etc .Some also prefer

rubber. For 2000 nutmegs trees ,17000 Rs /year/tree is the gain of Kerakesari award

winner Thachapilly Aravindakshan in Triprayar.In kasargod bheemanadi paalamattathil

Sebastian’s view(another kerakesari award winner)rubber is best and he has made a

mixture of rubber,vanilla,cocoa,pepper,pine apple,plantains,betelnut tree, and beans in 15

acre of coconut garden as interim produce to make his garden more productive and cost

effective.

In Kuttiadi the majority of coconut seeds are collected .This time only 1,65000 seeds

were there. Last year it was 1,45000.The fever of the farmers there which has made pains

in hands and feet has caused some fear in the minds of people .

When these negative results are being reported there is a strong positive response from

Palghat Srikrishnapuram farmer Sankaran Nambuthiri.He has a garden land of 3 and a

half acres only .He says it yields coconuts to lead a respectable contended life according

to him. He has been doing organic farming of traditional style even before such a thing

and the zero budget farming were ever got popularity. He never uses chemical fertilizers

or pesticides in his garden. Even for the rubber in his garden land he does not use

chemicals. From one acre he gets one lakh gain per year for rubber. He does tapping, taking

milk, and sheet etc by himself and do not depend upon any other person for such jobs .The

remaining 2 and a half acres have coconuts,betelnut trees,jathi or

nutmeg,vanilla,coffee,cocoa and is a mixture of farming .The traditional way of doing

farming by oneself reduced the cost of labor into 1/3rd. He do not cut the shrubs etc in

his gardenland.He just crushes them with a stick when they overgrow. there is no kila or

making thadam etc .The patta,chakiri,madal etc or waste products are deposited in the

garden itself so that they become degenerated and become organic manure .The

jeevamritha which is a mixture of cowdung,cows urine, powdered beans and starker is

sprinkled once a month in the entire garden land. For this he has made a tank in the garden

which can contain 12000 liters.Sankaran Namboothiri points out that a farmer has to love

the earth and the farming and not the money which the product brings .Then everything

will be solved by itself.(This is probably what we have to learn and practice

first.Thiruvalluvar also has said the same. If we practice that we can live with agriculture

alone and that was the life of our ancestors which made us the best agrarian economy in

the world in prehistoric/historic times before independence. Where did we loose that ?And

how ?Try to find answers for that and solve the problem. Do not find fault with some one

else. Find out ones own faults and correct .We are then saved. This is what I really want to

convey by this book .Thanks to Sankaran Namboothiri for voicing that opinion and for

the five people who made the report in Mathrubhoomi for highlighting this sensible

opinion. The five Panjayathana are George podipara,Aneesh

Jacob,S.D.Venukumar,K.R.Prahladan,and K.Rajesh kumar).

Same day on page 7 is a news that in Pulloor ,the paddy Uma seed is produced in plenty

on a hilltop which was leveled in Pullor Edamunda.Five years back the hill was leveled

.For years vegetables were grown there. This year when on experimental basis paddy was

sown it was a success. The farmer Krishna is also doing farming of gourds ,sweet potato

,tapioca etc on this hill .

In Monacha fields which was not used for years women of the area did farming in co-

operative basis .The seed Athira was used. The farming was done under

Kudumbashree.The women had no fields of their own and took fields for paattam and

made good produce.

Like Srikrishnapuram another positive note is from K.Kunhimamu of Kannur

Kaattampalli kaipaad.Kaippad or karippad is the field of rice .For 40 yrs these were

uncultivated .The co-operative farming done in 10 acres of this fields by Kunjimamu and

his team is revolutionary. He is the president of Kattampalli project area agricultural

farmer-laborer union. There is 515 acres of land which is left uncultivated for 43 years

.This is in Chelora,Naaarath,Puzhathi,Munderi,Kolachery,Kuttiatur,and Chirakkal

panchayath.50 people did co-operative farming there. This was done as a lesson for those

who say that agriculture is not costeffective.43 yrs back the shutters of kattampalli project

were permanently closed saying that it is the salt water from the sea which is making it

impossible for taking three poovals from the fields. The purpose was to take poovals all

round the year. But the effect was opposite. When salt water from sea was prevented the

mud stopped entering the fields and the ground became rocky and hard. And dirt

accumulated in fields. Only when natural tides and entry of cheru(dirt from sea)come and

make the land fertile the produce will be good.This was pointed out by farmers and the

shutters were allowed to be opened by their repeated requests.Kunjimamu has cultivated

10 acres. For that 30000 Rs was spent.23500 Rs and the seeds were given back from

Government. He expects produce of 1.25 lakhs from the fields. When he didn’t get people

to do labor in the field like planting saplings etc he used labor from all the members of

his house and thus the production cost was minimal. This was what was done in old time

farming of Cheranad and he has repeated it. This is a revolutionary eye-opener. In 6 acres

he has Orkkayamma seeds ,in 3 acres Kuthiru and in one acre vyttila 6.Since there is

enough ferric iron in the red soil no other fertilizer is needed according to

Kunjimamu.(Mathrubhoomi 25.10.2009).The old ancestor ,Kannur Nambuthiri who

wrote a book on agriculture in 18th century ,was from this very place and he might be

blessing the Kattampali project and its charioteer Kunjimamu for the love and respect he

is showing to agriculture and land and labor on a co-operative basis.

The same day it is reported that in Aroor mandala ,western parts Karinila ,reaping of

paddy has started .2000 acres were cultivated.Pokkali,chedivirippu and Vytt 6 seeds were

sown. Only in a very few fields were Uma,and jyothy and the new HY variety sown. The

farmers used traditional chedivirippu and pokkali which are suited for karinila.There is a

view among the civil supplies that these traditional produce need not be taken and only

the HY variety will be bought from farmers. If the decision of civil supply is like that ,the

producers will be in difficulty. But ,the red tapism of supply co in such matters should be

analyzed and channelised in the correct way to enhance food production in the

country. The attitude of supply co is detrimental to production increase in the country .It is

against national and state interest and against the interest of farmers as well.

Oct 30 .2009 Letters to the editor column has given a few remarks and opinions from the

readers about the series on agricultural scenario.Fr Thomas piliyanickal points out that

seeds like jyothi and uma have lost their high yielding capacity .His suggestion to have a

rice park in each village panchayath if done with proper co-operation from people of the

panchayath will work out .If it is dependent on Govt funds it will never happen and even

if it happens it will not succeed. He mentions a very pertinent point about the food

security based on production in other states is not permanent and that methods to produce

enough rice for Kerala is possible .But the method he suggests is involving the

Government .In each Panchayath ,if there are co-operative work with all people ,this can

be started and the method of getting loans and getting into debts and paying interests is

being encouraged by Govt and it is in the long run detrimental to farmers as well as the

rice farming activity as such .He thinks that the responsibility to feed the people of

Kerala is not that of the farmers alone .And the society and Govt should take that

responsibility.

It has been a vicious circle that is created by individual property rights of Kol puncha

fields and other fields of paddy growing areas. Because paddy growing cannot be done on

an individual basis and the labourers,small land holders as well as Govt is now

understanding this fact ,though a little bit late.

C.A .Sheela from Panamaram strongly criticizes the views of Agricultural minister that a

culture of agriculture should be created. No help had been given to farmers of Wynad

though the minister says it had been given, she adds. She say s when the produce was

destroyed in 2008 officials of agricultural dept came and looked at the loss and report

given but no help came from Govt.That means the Govt is still following the same code

of conduct as noticed by my father in early sixties (Kerala Legislative assembly

proceedings ).Madhavannunni from Ongallur ,Pattambi says the reason for the problems

of agricultural field is the total avoidance of age-old seeds ,cattle, traditional knowledge of

agriculture .They were not only avoided but destroyed en root by the new reforms. And

from a farmer who loved the fields ,he had been converted to one who fights with the

fields. The productivity decrease with such a process. Now farmers are wasting time with

papers and requests in the verandas of numerous Govt offices for grievances which will

never be solved by such Govts.He says, There is only one method for solution and food

safety. The traditional methods of agriculture were formed after experience of millennia

with geographical, seasonal knowledge and knowledge of soil and biodiversity and water

resources .Know that and then with the modern technological and scientific knowledge

strike a balance and go forward. I think his is a practical and sound suggestion for a strong

agro economy in Kerala ,the best place where rains, land and other conditions are best for

paddy growing in the South India.

Trying to grow more and create a green revolution in places where a climate and

resources for good production does not exist(in dry land )is a process of development in

such areas. But neglect of an already available land with best climatic conditions for grain

production, and converting that for other purposes etc is a great negligence and culpable

crime of first order. Both the ruling and the opposition leaders and the people of all

panchayaths should sit together and find out solutions in each region/locality .And the

peoples participation, love of land and agriculture and expertise and experience in

agriculture is the best culture of agriculture. Regain that culture and succeed together is

the best motto. Government should see the priority value of food production and the

timely help needed for success of farming and should raise to the occasion and reduce red

tapisms .And different deprtments being concerned in agricultural activity they should

sort out their problems between them. It is the responsibility of the Government to help

people. And it is the responsibility of people to co-operate and increase production and

become selfsufficient.No one is free from responsibility. And blaming each other is not

solution to problem. Conducting fruitful discussions so that the problem is solved and

nation progresses is the goal.

TOI Monday Dec 7th 2009:-
What about the climatic changes in other parts of India ,when the kanikonna has started to bloom in October itself (not in the usual April /May)and the reptiles and birds has started to hatch earlier ?
We will look at Darjiling.Usually flowers bloomed there in February and now they bloom one month early in January and the thousands of migratory birds which come miss the season. They are the pollinating agents and due to early flowering chance of pollination is gone. A few years ago in Kurseong and Tindharia thousands of sparrows and swallows came but now only mosquitoes and flies are there. The sathpathri(Saipatri with 100 petals)which bloomed in hills do not bloom now. The Gauthali birds do not chirp noisily and apple of Kullu valley has shrunk due to want of frost .Ginger and oranges are not growing to their great potentials.(10 yrs ago they did).The marigolds of Nepal during Tihar and Bhaitika(Diwali and Bhaidhooj of Nepal)grow less. Steady drying up of watersources,rare bouts of snowfalls are happening which is dangerous to their economy and tourism as well.
In Himachal Pradesh ,Shimla the glaciers are melting .The climate change brought down the number of good chilling hours for a good apple crop from 1200 to 800 hours. Now Kullu people requires AC and fans to sleep .Global warming is just one aspect of the problem. Large scale construction, rapid increase in number of population, as well as vehicles have compounded the problem according to the scientists. Deforestation reduced green cover of hills. A vicious circle is created by manmade disasters. According to Dr S.S.Samant,scientist in charge of G B Pant institute a drought-like situation can happen soon .Himachal Pradesh agricultural uty at Palampur says that in 30 years ,growing apples will not be possible in Himalaya belt of Kinnaur,Shimla and Kullu districts. According to senior scientist G.C.Kunial in 1965 the apple belt was found at height of 1000 meters above sea level .Now it has receded to 2000 meters. Apple orchards abundant in Bajaura(1000 meters)until some years back can now be found only in Katrain(2000 meters)near Manali.Vice chancellor of Palampur uty (Dr Tej Pratap Singh) says farmers are shifting from apples which used to pump Rs 1700 crores into local economy, to other types of crops. And he adds it is not just apples but all other crops are in danger.

In west coast the spawning season of the small kili meen is changed. In Karnataka the lost Madhuka bourdillioni is rediscovered and scientists are afraid that it may not survive the climate changes that we are facing in the western ghats.In 1393 when the religion and faith of the Parsis of Iran was threatened by the spreading Islamisation a group of them came to India to protect their fire (which they called the Iran Shaw).They landed in Sanjan in Valsad district of Gujarat coast. This fire was later shifted to Udwada a coastal town near Sanjan in 1742.Now the Arabian sea is about to gobble up the holy fire and its seat .Prof Vyas Pandey ,teacher at Anand Agricultural uty says an increase in temperature by 1 to 3 degree has decreased wheat yield from 3546 to 2646 kg per hectare. In Gujarat ,the wheat production dipped to 8.31 % due to various reasons. In Sourashtra production of Kesar mangoes went down by 10-15% this year.In 2008 the December temperature increased 2-3 degree C ,and in February 2009 it increased 5 degree which delayed flowering of mango trees. Many trees did not bear fruit this year due to this. Maximum and minimum temperatures had gone up across a state which is already in hot state according to Dr Pandey.Though the increase is marginal it has effected drastically the rainfall and crop pattern according to him.
The drop in coconut production was due to salinity ingress ,a result of scanty rainfall for the last 7 years. The Junagadh-Mangrol belt showed 30-40 % dip in production. Salinity ingress along the 1600 Km coastline of Gujarat affected 1500 villages until last year.CSPC(coastal salinity prevention cell)say farmers are shifting to cash crops like BT cotton and salinity-tolerant crops.(Yesterday there was a news in Mathrubhoomi that due to the peoples revolt the authorities have broken the Viyyam Kaayal bund protectors and allowed saline water to enter the area and all the fresh water in the kaayal was lost and the paddy will suffer this time. The people instead of being told of the problems of such a procedure and long term dangers are being appeased by the authorities for a short-term escape from problems is what I feel from this.)Gujarat ,according to Priyadarshi Shukla ,a member of Intergovernmental Panel of climate change (1PCC) and an IIM (A)professor ,is the 4th largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG)in the country behind only Maharashtra ,UP and AP.An average Gujrati’s greenhouse gas footprint is 3.16 tones against the national per capita average of 1.9 tones.
By 2020 India has decided to cut 25 % of emission. Along with that we should also take a decision to preserve as much of our traditional greenery, cultivation patterns and food production for a healthy level of subsistence .This has to start at every village with each citizen of India and spread to all nation and world as a model .Then we are saved. A few years ago I had written an article in the Express daily from Trichur about how one can undermine the prediction of Malthus by making more production in food and agriculture and cutting short population .And with a good climate only this is possible. And for a good climate we need to know how to preserve our nature. Nature is needed for tourism industry as well. If we exploit nature just to make it concrete jungles ,with our over enthusiasm to have a piece of land and a hut/flat for each one ,there wont be tourism also in the country. The old monuments, the peaceful pristine nature, and the basic amenities for tourists we have to give through our own regional and cultural peculiarities ,minimizing destruction ,minimizing constructions and reducing pollution .Each village should co-operatively come forward for this .