Farming to begin at Methran Kayal next week

KOTTAYAM: Works have begun at the Methran Kayal for setting the fields to start farming. Workers of NREGA scheme have begun building small ridges and channels in the Kayal on Tuesday. Earlier the government had planned to launch the farming programme on Kerala Piravi day . However, the dewatering process could not be completed on time.
On Tuesday , around 90 workers started working in the fields.The government has set aside Rs 80 lakh for launching farming at Methran Kayal. According to principal agricultural officer Suma, the farming will be launched before November 10. She said Uma variety of seed would be sowed there. The officer also said that the soil in the field would be tested soon after the comp letion of the dewatering of the fields.
Methran Kayal hit the headlines earlier this year after the previous UDF government gave nod for a tourism project in the area. Following protests, the government was forced to withdraw the order. The LDF government which came to power took a stand that it would allow only farming in the. Agriculture minister Sunil Kumar who visited the Methran Kayal had set the target of launching farming here by November.Methran Kayal is among the paddy lands in Kuttanad that has got the heritage status from Unesco for its unique below-sea level farming. However, there was no farming since 2007 after the land was purchased for developing an eco-tourism village.