Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Farmers’ group wants paddy Bill enacted this session

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Nelkrishi Samrakshana Vedi, a collective of environmental groups and farmers’ organisations across the State, has urged the State government to present the Kerala Paddy Field and Wetland Conservation Bill before the Assembly in the current session.

Talking to presspersons here on Tuesday, Vedi leaders R. Sreedhar of Thanal, Thiruvananthapuram, and Varghese Thoduparambil of Karshaka Munnettam, Thrissur, said some of the provisions in the draft Bill caused concern. They said the clause permitting the government to reclaim paddy fields for public causes was fraught with danger.

“What it means is that the remaining paddy fields and wetlands in the State can be claimed for any project sanctioned by the government, including the development of roads, industries, commercial complexes or special economic zones. Considering the fact that most of the wetlands in Kerala have been lost to the so-called development projects, the provision should be deleted from the Bill. The environmental consequences such as habitat destruction and depletion of water resources can prove disastrous in the long run,” Mr. Varghese said.

The Vedi has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran and Agriculture Minister Mullakara Ratnakaran underlining the need to recognise food security as the prime concern for Kerala.

“We have demanded a total moratorium on reclamation of wetlands even for public causes, at least until the State achieves food security and does not have to approach the Central Government or other States to meet its growing demand for foodgrains and other crops,” Mr. Sreedhar said.

The memorandum has called for the establishment of an income commission to ensure that the family of a paddy farmer earns a minimum annual income of Rs. 1 lakh. The amount should be subjected to periodic revision, it adds.

Another major demand raised by the Vedi is to derecognise banana as a rotational crop in paddy fields. “Rotational crop should not replace the original crop. In Kerala, banana was never selected for crop rotation because it is not a wetland crop. Also, unlike vegetables and fish-farming, it takes more than a year for harvesting. Banana farming will lead to the conversion of paddy fields,” the leaders observed.

The memorandum says that conversion of wetlands for real estate development is rampant throughout the State.

“Builders and real estate developers are in a race to buy up land before the Bill becomes an Act. Large tracts of paddy fields are being filled up for the construction of houses and apartment complexes. Any resistance is quickly suppressed by mafia groups using musclemen,” it points out.

The memorandum highlights the need for a single-window subsidy of Rs. 20,000 a hectare, along with a production bonus of Rs. 5,000 and an insurance cover of Rs. 2,5000. Paddy farming will have to be made remunerative if farmers are to be retained, it notes. It demands a support price of Rs. 12 a kg for paddy and district-level centres for procurement. The government should also ensure speedy disbursement of funds and easy accessibility for the farmer, it says.

The Vedi has called for the constitution of a local-level committee to protect paddy fields and wetlands.

The committee should comprise the village officer, the agriculture officer, the panchayat president and four paddy farmers, including two women.

It has proposed the inclusion of an agricultural scientist in the district and State-level committees.

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