Resuming paddy farming in Methran Kayal not a tough task, says Minister

Kottayam: Paddy farming is possible in Methran Kayal, easier than the effort put in for resuming farming in Rani Kayal, said Agricultural Minister V S Sunil Kumar. The Minister was speaking after a visit to the controversial Methran Kayal near here on Friday. The Minister said that the Government will extend all support to the farmers who wish to resume farming here. He also said that the Government will not allow any tourism project in Methran Kayal. "The policy of the LDF Government is not to allow anything other than paddy farming in paddy fields," he said. Kumar made it clear that farming will resume in Methran Kayal in September this year itself. The minister said that the Government will provide all infrastructure facilities including strengthening the outer bunds of the kayal to facilitate farming.
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 a land developer purchased around 400 acres of land here for developing an eco-tourism village.
"Around five farmers still have around 30 acres of land here. They are not ready to sell their land to the developers who have offered huge amount. These farmers had moved court for resuming farming and the Government will provide facilities, said the minister. The stumbling block for the Government will be that either for cultivation in one cent of land or 400 acre in Methran Kayal, the basic facilities to be provided are the same. The major work will be the construction of outer bunds for this 400 acre and motor pumps with pump houses to dewater the kayal. According to the Minister, the initial cost for strengthening the bunds will be around Rs 80 lakhs and in second phase the cost will be between 2-3 crores. He also said that the principal agricultural officer has been asked to file a detailed report about the possibility of resuming farming in Methran Kayal.
Though, the Minister talked tough against the tourism project, he said that the Government will not compel or force the land owners in the Methran Kayal to launch farming. He also said that a representative of the land developers Rakindo met him on Thursday. “A representative of the company named Jeevan met me in my office on Thursday. He told me that the company intends to implement the project in an agricultural- friendly way. He told me that the company will begin farming in 50 acres of land and tourism in the remaining place. There will be organic farming also. I made it clear that the Government will no way agree for any other project other than paddy farming in paddy land," said Sunil Kumar.
He said that he had come to visit Methran Kayal following a decision by the LDF Government about implementing a project in the agricultural sector in the state. "The beginning of this project will be in Methran Kayal. By resuming paddy farming in barren fields, issues like famine and shortage of drinking water could be tackled," he said.
He also said that barren lands which has to be turned into cultivable will be identified through satellite mapping. We will find the reason for the land being turned into barren and will prepare a master plan. If needed, amendments will be made to the Kerala conservation of paddy land and wetland act 2008," he said. "The Government is aiming to increase the area of paddy cultivation to three hectares and production from 5.5 lakh metric tonnes to 8-10 lakh metric tonnes in five years," he said.
The Minister also said that the Government will prepare a comprehensive project to resume farming in R Block in Alappuzha. He also said that the irregularities in the Kuttanad package will be subjected to a vigilance inquiry and the LDF Government will try to revive the project. Regarding the controversial project in Chembu near Vaikom which was cleared in the last days of the UDF Government, the minister said that the Cabinet sub-committee has found that the order was not cancelled. The Government has asked the Law Department to take necessary steps to cancel that order, he said.