Kerala - Alappuzha   

Testing times for Kuttanad farmers

ALAPPUZHA: Farmers in Kuttanad are going through a perplexing and depressing phase this year.

The damage caused by the recent monsoon to the second round of cultivations here is said to be the most devastating in recent years. Ironically, this was the same year that the farmers saw the best yield in more than a decade for the first round of ‘puncha’ cultivation.

The ‘puncha’ yield, as per official statistics, was put at 1,37,500 tonnes, as against the 1,07,500-tonne yield last year, which roughly translated into an additional income of around Rs.25 crore. The enthused farmers had then put hopes on a similar yield from the second round of cultivations, which began more than a month ago.

However, the monsoon and the floods shattered all hopes.

According to official statistics, cultivation on 5,623 hectare of land, mostly paddy, was damaged in the floods and rain. The total loss in production costs alone could run to Rs.2.65 crore, the statistics say. The repairs of bunds alone will cost over Rs.65 lakh.

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