With resilience and endurance as backbone, we are slowly but surely treading the path of survival and resurgence. Concerted efforts helped us to overcome the
challenges posed by the worst flooding in the history of Kerala. Though the deluge was nightmarish, we faced the adversities with equanimity, and this Kerala model was a focus of study for many countries.
With resilience and endurance as backbone, we are slowly but surely treading the path of survival and resurgence. Concerted efforts helped us to overcome the challenges posed by the worst flooding in the history of Kerala. Though the deluge was nightmarish, we faced the adversities with equanimity, and this Kerala model was a focus of study for many countries. Kerala was pounded by the damaging floods after the debilitating drought of 2016 and the ominous Ockchi cyclone of 2017. It was the worst flooding in nearly a century. The ground reality is that the agriculture sector of the state was wiped away in a matter of few days. The farmers, who were eyeing the lucrative Onam market, were left in the lurch. As per the preliminary estimates, the agriculture sector incurred a huge loss of Rs 1, 458.5 crore, and Kuttanad was worst hit. Farming in many regions at Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta bore the brunt of the surging waters. ‘Viruppu’ farming in thousands of hectares of land was destroyed, and the floods also dealt a heavy blow on the state’spice farming. The districts of Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayanad suffered heavy losses. The pepper cultivationof Wayanad and Idukki districts was washed away in the floods. Now, we have the arduous task of rebuilding the agriculture sector
which is in a shambles. The Agriculture Department has drawn up Rs.1,200 crore comprehensive action plan to revive farming with allocations from the Center and State Government. The plan has been prepared with stress on cultivation of paddy, plantains and vegetables. The Soil Survey and Conservation Department has
presented Rs.200 crore project to conserve soil of the regions that were hit by landslips. Moreover, efforts are taken to learn more about the reasons that triggered landslips and actions have taken to study more about areas prone to landslides. Many projects aiming to restore the agriculture, which is the mainstay of Kerala, have
been presented before the Finance Department. One of the important projects include Rs.95.53 crore one to put in place 2 bio control labs and renovate the state bio control lab at Mannuthy to produce beneficial insects in a bid to reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers and eventually get rid of the use of chemical fertilizers in a phased manner. Other major initiatives includes establishing 4 tissue culture labs at a cost of Rs 56.86 crore; an Rs 13.38 crore project to develop value-added products from jackfruit, the State fruit of Kerala, a sustainable agriculture development project for Attappady, a special sustainable development project worth Rs 50 crore for district agricultural farm at Neriamangalam, Rs 8.462 crore for Athirapilly Tribal Valley Agriculture Project,a special project to stop flooding in wetlands to encourage paddy cultivation, operation coal double,coconut development project worth Rs 378.55 crore, Rs 2.91 crore special project for the sustainable evelopment of Kuttanad and environmental conservation through paddy cultivation and a special project for the cultivation of pepper, paddy and plantains, among others. Reviving coconut cultivation is an integral part of the agriculture sector revitalizing programme. State Coconut Council has been formed, and efforts are being taken on this front. Even while ruminating on the huge losses in the farming sector, we should keep in mind the value of large quantities of silt (ekkal) deposited by the great floods. The farmers can reap a good harvest, without depending on fertilizers and pesticides, if they use silt for cultivation. The excellent harvest of last season vouches for this as the farmers got outstanding produce from Kuttanad and wetlands without using much fertilizers and pesticides.
UJJIVAN LOAN SCHEME
The Ujjivan Loan Help Programme launched by the State provides loans to flood affected farmers and entrepreneurs. The scheme envisages to provide financial assistance to farmers and traders to rebuild their lives. The benefits of this loan programme was availed by 298 units. The Ujjivan scheme aims to offer assistance at various levels of repayment schedule by arranging margin money, discount on interest rate charged on the loan, and a support scheme.
