ALAPPUZHA: Paddy farmers in the D-Block of the Alappuzha belt of Kuttanad have come together and signed a `Kayal Declaration,' which seeks to put an end to their miseries through compensation for the losses suffered during this harvest season and also to prevent further losses in the next season.

The farmers, who got together under the aegis of the Kuttanad Vikasana Samiti's Farm Net here on Wednesday, said that the crop in the two sections of 600 acres (243 hectares) in D-Block had been completely damaged owing to a disease, which they call `Venkanni'.

The loss, according to Farm Net, could be to the tune of nearly Rs.1 crore.

The farmers, before signing the declaration, also started a signature campaign to bring the loss to the notice of the State Government and the Kerala State Farmers' Debt Relief Commission.

Scientists

The Declaration, meanwhile, asks for a mobile agriculture information centre and a team of agriculture scientists who will be stationed in Kuttanad right through the period of sowing to reaping the crop, so as to avoid frequent attacks by pests and other diseases that could damage the crop.

The document also calls for special boat services during cultivation and harvest to help farmers and farm labourers, financial help from the State Government for maintenance of bunds that were damaged during rain, guarantee of quality for the seeds, fertilizers and pesticides that are supplied to the farmers, a sustained supply of drinking water, farm roads through the paddy fields, storage facilities for the harvested crop and an assurance from the Government that the promised price of Rs.850 per quintal will be adhered to.

Farm Net convener Fr. Thomas Peelianickal said the farmers have also asked the Government to stop moves to hand over procurement of the paddy crop to private agencies and also to arrange insurance for the farmers.

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