CAUSE - CONSEQUENCES ANALYSIS OF CONVERSION OF’ RICE ECOSYSTEMS IN KERALA

Funding Agency: Science and Society Division of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

The rice- ecosystems of Kerala are facing a constant threat of conversion over the years. From over 8.5 lakh hectares of land under rice cultivation in Kerala during 1970-71, the area has dwindled to less than four and a half lakh hectares now. The ecological impact of conversion of rice ecosystems on soil, water, flora and fauna resources are critically adverse. The social implications of conversion of rice lands to other crops and as real estate are also too well known. This project collected data regarding the status of paddy cultivation in Kerala, its extend, problems and potential, socio-economic aspects, opinion and suggestions from different groups like farmers, farm workers, political leaders etc. towards improvement of paddy cultivation in the State. The major objectives were to assess the nature and extent of conversion of rice lands in Kerala during the last 25 years, to conduct the cause - consequence analysis of conversion of rice ecosystems in Kerala to delineate the pull and push factors, to probe in to the ecological and resource dimensions of wetland ecosystems in Kerala, to explore the technological options to make rice cultivation sustainable in Kerala, to collate the views of all sections of people regarding governmental efforts to sustain rice cultivation in Kerala, to investigate the implications of rice field conversion for the agricultural labour force and other sections of the people in Kerala, to suggest amendments on the basis of the above, to the government order on Land Utilisation (1967 and 1977).

The study was conducted by a team of experts representing various disciplines related with agriculture and environment. They visited selected fields covering all the fourteen districts, held discussions with farmers, farm workers and others, and collected first hand information on various aspects related with paddy cultivation. The landuse changes in three selected panchayats in Kuttanad and Onattukara region were analysed using remote sensing data, resource mapping and GIS. The secondary data available in various agencies and departments were also collected. On the basis of the study, an action plan for the development of paddy cultivation in Kerala was formulated and a number of activities to increase the productivity and production of rice at least to 3 times of the existing productivity was recommended. It has also suggested programmes for scientific management of paddy cultivation through programme like “Group Approach for Locally Adapted and Sustainable Agriculture” (GALASA), which has to be planned and implemented at Padasekharam level. The study has given recommendations in fields like fertiliser utilisation mainly organic fertilisers, integrated irrigation management, procurement and marketing of rice, support price fixing and production bonus to farmers, establishment of farm workers co-operative society, good quality and locally suitable seed production, integration of activities of various agencies and departments related with agricultural activities etc.