Pokkali cultivation
Kerala
Collector issues directive to ensure cultivation of Pokkali fields
Staff Reporter
Demand to restore incentives and bonus given to Pokkali farmers
KOCHI: A district-level meeting of the various agencies and groups involved in Pokkali cultivation, held at Paravur on Thursday, has decided to take stringent measures against the practice of leaving pokkali paddy fields fallow.
District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish has directed the panchayat committees in the district where Pokkali paddy fields exist to convene meetings of farmers and agricultural workers' union before July 15 to make available paddy fields for pokkali cultivation.
The pokkali fields, low-lying paddy fields beneath the sea level, are usually used for prawn cultivation after the paddy harvesting.
However, as the farmers are complaining of a shortage of workers to harvest the paddy, many Pokkali farmers are now choosing either to leave the land fallow or use for year-round prawn cultivation.
The agricultural workers, in turn, are complaining that this practice is robbing them of their livelihood.
The row between the farmers and workers' unions has often led to tense situations in the region.
The issue of restoring the incentives and bonus given to Pokkali farmers and agricultural workers will be brought to the attention of Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Rathnakaran, who is scheduled to visit Aluva on July 8.
The incentives and bonuses for the farmers and workers are not being paid for the last couple of years.
Plea to raise bonus
The farmers had requested that the amount of the bonus be increased to at least Rs.1,000 from Rs.300 per hectare.
This demand will also be brought before the Agriculture Minister.
The Pokkali Land Development Agency (PLDA) is ready to fund mechanisation needs of the various padasekhara samithis. Funds would be given for purchasing harvesters, winnowing machines and threshers.
The Pokkali rice from Ezhikkara region has already obtained the European Union's organic certification.
GI Registration
The process for obtaining the Geographical Indication Registration for Pokkali rice is also progressing. The GI Registration is required so as to avoid duplication and prevent the possibility of products in the market in the name of Pokkali, according to Zeenath Akbar, member-secretary, PLDA.
Discussions are on with experts from the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) for value-addition and diversification of Pokkali rice.
Various means, including the production and marketing of rice powder, aval (rice flakes) and rice bran (`thavidu'), will be explored. Government assistance would be available for the schemes.
The cooperation of self-help groups such as Kudumbasree would be sought for cultivation of Pokkali farms in the panchayats where the padasekhara samitis do not exist.
Ms. Akbar said the change in the pattern of rain this year, with heavy downpour in the last week of May followed by a dry spell and again a bout of heavy rain in recent days, had affected the planting in Pokkali fields. A total amount of 77 tonnes of seed had been distributed to the farmers this year.
The seeds were procured by the agency from the farmers last year.
The farmers who are ready to cultivate after laying the fields fallow for two - three years will be given an incentive of Rs.5,000 per hectare.
District panchayat president P.S. Shyla, M.K. Purushothaman, MLA, district panchayat and grama panchayat members, representatives of padasekhara samithis, farmers, agricultural workers' union representatives, Principal Agricultural Officer and other officials participated in the meeting.
(The Hindu, Thursday, July 7, 2006)
Collector issues directive to ensure cultivation of Pokkali fields
Staff Reporter
Demand to restore incentives and bonus given to Pokkali farmers
KOCHI: A district-level meeting of the various agencies and groups involved in Pokkali cultivation, held at Paravur on Thursday, has decided to take stringent measures against the practice of leaving pokkali paddy fields fallow.
District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish has directed the panchayat committees in the district where Pokkali paddy fields exist to convene meetings of farmers and agricultural workers' union before July 15 to make available paddy fields for pokkali cultivation.
The pokkali fields, low-lying paddy fields beneath the sea level, are usually used for prawn cultivation after the paddy harvesting.
However, as the farmers are complaining of a shortage of workers to harvest the paddy, many Pokkali farmers are now choosing either to leave the land fallow or use for year-round prawn cultivation.
The agricultural workers, in turn, are complaining that this practice is robbing them of their livelihood.
The row between the farmers and workers' unions has often led to tense situations in the region.
The issue of restoring the incentives and bonus given to Pokkali farmers and agricultural workers will be brought to the attention of Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Rathnakaran, who is scheduled to visit Aluva on July 8.
The incentives and bonuses for the farmers and workers are not being paid for the last couple of years.
Plea to raise bonus
The farmers had requested that the amount of the bonus be increased to at least Rs.1,000 from Rs.300 per hectare.
This demand will also be brought before the Agriculture Minister.
The Pokkali Land Development Agency (PLDA) is ready to fund mechanisation needs of the various padasekhara samithis. Funds would be given for purchasing harvesters, winnowing machines and threshers.
The Pokkali rice from Ezhikkara region has already obtained the European Union's organic certification.
GI Registration
The process for obtaining the Geographical Indication Registration for Pokkali rice is also progressing. The GI Registration is required so as to avoid duplication and prevent the possibility of products in the market in the name of Pokkali, according to Zeenath Akbar, member-secretary, PLDA.
Discussions are on with experts from the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) for value-addition and diversification of Pokkali rice.
Various means, including the production and marketing of rice powder, aval (rice flakes) and rice bran (`thavidu'), will be explored. Government assistance would be available for the schemes.
The cooperation of self-help groups such as Kudumbasree would be sought for cultivation of Pokkali farms in the panchayats where the padasekhara samitis do not exist.
Ms. Akbar said the change in the pattern of rain this year, with heavy downpour in the last week of May followed by a dry spell and again a bout of heavy rain in recent days, had affected the planting in Pokkali fields. A total amount of 77 tonnes of seed had been distributed to the farmers this year.
The seeds were procured by the agency from the farmers last year.
The farmers who are ready to cultivate after laying the fields fallow for two - three years will be given an incentive of Rs.5,000 per hectare.
District panchayat president P.S. Shyla, M.K. Purushothaman, MLA, district panchayat and grama panchayat members, representatives of padasekhara samithis, farmers, agricultural workers' union representatives, Principal Agricultural Officer and other officials participated in the meeting.
(The Hindu, Thursday, July 7, 2006)
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