The Hindu : Kerala News : Farming under Kudumbasree yields results

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 18, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Farming under Kudumbasree yields results

K.A. Martin

KOCHI: Experiments with lease-land farming under the Kudumbasree Poverty Eradication mission has produced heart-warming results across the State. In Ernakulam, Kerala's most industrialized district, the results are more than an eye-opener to those who still consider farming a loss-making proposition.

The most significant aspect of the achievement is that lease-land farming is being carried out exclusively by women in families that are covered by the Kudumbasree programme. From preparing the fields through sowing to harvest, these women rely on cooperative efforts to reap a rich harvest.

As a result, acreage under lease-land farming in the District has burgeoned to cover a total of 3,853 hectares under 3,481 neighbourhood groups benefiting 38,929 families. Crops under cultivation include paddy, vegetables, tapioca, ginger, turmeric, vanilla, jasmine, plantains and bananas and pineapple.

On Thursday, the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam, Kudumbasree District Mission honoured 10 of the best panchayats from among the 84 panchayats where lease-land farming is a booming business. The incentives were given away on the basis of the total acreage under cultivation and its productivity, said a Kudumbasree official.

The 10 best panchayats are: Kuttampuzha, Okkal, Vengoor, Thiruvaniyoor, Nedumbassery, Ayyampuzha, Ramamangalam, Maneed, Sreemoolanagaram and Koovappady.

Described as production incentives, the 10 panchayats received Rs. 10.66 lakh in incentives. The cheques have been issued to the respective Community Development Societies, said an official of the Kudumbashree after the first-ever women farmers' meet organised by the Mission at the Thrikkakara Panchayat Community Hall, Kakkanadu.

More than 400 women farmers from the 84 panchayats participated in the programme on Thursday that included classes on integrated fertilizer management, comprehensive agriculture planning, good agriculture practices and organic farming.

The Farmers' Day programme also saw health entrepreneurs under the Kudumbashree Mission getting kits for their health work in their communities.

The kits were distributed by Health Action By People. Ten of the trained women under the Santhwanam programme received the health kits.

Bini David, Standing Committee Chairman, Ernakulam District Panchayat, inaugurated the farmers' meet. Sabitha Karim, President of the Thrikkakara Grama Panchayat.

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