Rice is the dominant crop that covers 57 per cent of the total area of Kumarakom. The physiographical set-up of the area, a low-lying zone, supports the rice cultivation. Two crops are usually raised during Viruppu (Kharif) in May-September and punja (Rabi) in November-March.All the paddy fields in Kuttanad are submerged area and hence called the Netherlands of Kerala. The rice is raised after bailing out water and bunding the low-lying fields. Cultivation is practised in blocks called Padasekharams (Polders). There are 45 Padasekharams managed by 45 different elected Padasekharam committees in the village. Several cultivators, who cultivate their land individually, own the land in these Padasekharams.
Rice Cultivation Below Sea Level - Wiki Commons
Dewatering is taken up on a co-operative basis. The marginal farmers owning less then one hectare account for 57.6 per cent of operational holding followed by small farmers (32.5 per cent). Therefore most of the farmers have to depend on collective ventures for cultivation in the polders. The productivity of the crop is high; 3.8 tons/hectare as against the State average of 2 tons/hectare.
Rice Cultivation
The main economic activity in this wetland tract is rice cultivation. The cycle of activities in a rice cultivation season in Kumarakom is as follows:-
1. Removal of waterweeds: The rice field is usually infested with waterweeds due to fallowing. The first step to initiate cultivation is removal of all aquatic weeds.
2. Repair of outer bunds: Since the cultivation is done below water level, a strong outer bund is a necessity for dewatering and safe cultivation.
3. Auction for pumping: The Puncha Special Officer who is an official of the Revenue Dept. does the auctioning for pumping. This is done at Kottayam, the district headquarters. Usually the members of the polder committee and interested farmers participate in the auction. The polder committee gives farmers attending a token amount for attendance, which is then included in the organizational expenses of the polder. The contractor who takes the auction is responsible for the de-watering activities in the polder.
4. De-watering: This can take 1 or 2 weeks for small polders and up to 30 days for bigger polders. During de-watering, a net is strung across the outlet for fishing. The polder committee also auctions the fishing rights. During the de-watering period the traditional fishermen can fish in the polders.
5. After de-watering, the field is allowed to dry in the sun and weeds are allowed to grow.
6. Weedicide is applied and water is let in and the weeds are made to decay.
7. De-watering.
8. Polder preparation: Levelling of polders is done with a tiller and/ or by female agricultural laborers who level the field by hand.
9. Irrigation; water is let in through sluices.
10. Sowing: sprouted seeds (seeds are tied in a sack and kept in water for a day and then kept outside for a day after tying it tight for germination) are sown in water.11. De-watering: the sprout is allowed to grow after this. During the period, weeds also grow, but the growth is slower and hence the height of the weeds will be lower than that of the rice plants.
12. Irrigation: water is let in to a level at which the weeds are submerged.
13. De-watering after a week when the weeds are made to decay
14. Gap filling and weeding: gap filling is done to adjust the space between plants and simultaneously, weeding is also done.
15. First application of fertilizers.
16. Second application of fertilizers (15 days after the first application).
17. Third application of fertilizers (15 days after the second application). During the activities mentioned under 15, 16 and 17, there is frequent irrigation and de-watering done to keep fresh water in the field. During the same time pesticides and fungicides are applied as and when pests or diseases are noticed.
18. After 45 days, the first stages of rice are visible.
19. After 110 to 120 days, harvesting is done.
20. This is taken to the threshing field, which is usually on the embankment of the polder.21. Threshing: usually during the night by the female farm workers who did the harvesting.
22. Winnowing: mostly by using the winnowing machine (powerful fan is used to separate the paddy from the chaff)
The increasing cost and risk of cultivation is found as the major constraint to farming.The rice cultivation in Kuttanad is a demonstration of what human endeavour can accomplish even without elaborate equipments. A detailed survey conducted in Kumarakom has shown the following as the major problems.
Problems of labor: Scarcity of labor with diminishing labor productivity
23. Paddy is stored in piles and merchants come and take this. The merchants can be local rice processors or modern rice mill owners.
De-watering: High cost of dewatering, power failures, delays associated with this activity
Weak bunds and recurring cost of maintenance
High weed-growth and high cost of weed control
Salinity intrusion and crop loss during summer months
Acidity and iron toxicity and declining soil fertility due to constant use of chemical inputs
Pest and diseases damage routing in poor grain formation
Damage done by rodents
Inadequate transportation facilities and marketing problems.
The intensive cultivation using high breed varieties of rice, chemical fertilisers, and heavy doses of pesticides has caused both fertiliser and pesticide pollution to the aquatic environment in Kuttanad. The KWB study (1989) has estimated that 20,228 tons of chemical fertiliser and 485 tons of pesticides are applied every year in Kuttanad. Spread of noxious aquatic weeds due to fertiliser pollution has an added effect on killing fishes and rendering fisher folk jobless.Shrinking Rice Fields
The cost of rice cultivation has increased considerably and made it unremunerative. Consequently farming in Kuttanad brings heavy loss to farmers. Young men and women are not ready to work in the paddy fields. As a result an acute shortage of labor is experienced in rice cultivation. Many of the cultivators are unwilling to take the heavy risk of rice cultivation. They even try to convert paddy field to coconut garden or to housing site. The conversion of paddy fields is done in violation of law and it is detrimental to the economic and developmental interests of the society. Rice being the staple food of the state, we must have a reliable domestic supply to ensure food security. But every year the area for cultivation and production of rice is shrinking.
Increasing cost of cultivation due to increase in the price of fertilisers, pesticides, and labor not followed by any commensurate increase in output price is the major factor that contributed to the persistent pressure for replacement of rice by other more remunerative crops. Apart from diminishing returns from rice cultivation acute shortage of labor also discourage rice farmers from continuing the traditional occupation, as successful rice cultivation demands crop operations at the right season and time. This has tempted some of the farmers to switch over to other enterprises. In many areas, paddy fields have been systematically converted into coconut plantation further altering the ecology and aggravating flood problems.
In this context, diversified agriculture covering livestock and poultry farming aquaculture, horticulture, etc., following new economic climate is not only essential to ensure nutritional security for the households, but also to develop ability to import commodities by exporting agricultural commodities. Further, rice farm production is the most efficient way of alleviating poverty, protecting the environment, and bringing about economic transformation in rural areas. The growth in farm productivity will accelerate growth not only in industry but also of the economy as a whole.
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