The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Declare Kuttanad a SAZ, says M.S. Swaminathan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 25, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Declare Kuttanad a SAZ, says M.S. Swaminathan

T. Ramavarman

M.S. Swaminathan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan has emphasised the need to adopt a holistic approach to all land and water-based occupations in Kuttanad so as to restore the pristine glory of the unique wetland. He made the suggestion in a talk with The Hindu here recently after submitting a draft report of the Commission on the farm distress in Kuttanad. The Commission has been appointed by the Centre to study problems in 32 agriculture-distress districts in the country , including Alappuzha and Idukki.

Pointing out that the Kuttanad Renaissance Symphony programme would require political will, professional skill, people’s participation and adequate financial resources, Prof. Swaminathan suggested that a multi-stakeholder Kuttanad Prosperity Council, consisting of representatives of farming and fisher families, technical experts, financial institutions, non-governmental organisations, women’s organisations and the mass media, be established. In addition to the funds for solving the agrarian crisis, it is important that Kuttanad receives adequate support from the Centre, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, and other financial institutions.

Need for zone

Emphasising the need for declaring Kuttanad as a Special Agricultural Zone (SAZ), Prof. Swaminathan said the SAZ was not an alternative to the Special Economic Zones being formed for industrial development. The SAZ will work out and implement an integrated scheme for tapping the bio-mass potential of an area in a scientific way.

He said it would aim at giving holistic attention to conservation, cultivation, consumption and commerce in relation to terrestrial and aquatic production systems. There should be efforts to promote a scientific water salinity management and flood control strategy for Vembanad Lake, and this will help harness the needs of both paddy and fish cultivation.

The productivity and profitability of the rice and fish farming systems should be improved significantly and there should be efforts to promote multiple livelihood opportunities in gardens through crop-livestock integration and biomass utilisation.

He said an action plan should be worked out for small farm management revolution in the area through the spatial reorganisation of ‘padasekharams.’ Appropriate credit and insurance schemes should be evolved to minimise the risk of floods and other natural calamities and to ensure income and work security. Market infrastructure should be strengthened to avoid distress sales and to add value to various farm products. A brand name should be developed for the farm products of Kuttanad based on strict quality control.

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