The Vayalilpadam field at Ambadimala in Chottanikkara on Monday witnessed the first harvest in 22 years. District panchayat president Asha Sanil, students of Government High School, Thiruvamkulam, and the local people along with Kudumbasree and Ayalkootam activists joined in to make the harvest a celebration.
The Ponmani variety paddy harvested from five acres would be processed at Kandanad Mill and would be given to the local people at a reasonable price, said Johnson Thomas, ward member, at a function.
Shiji C.V., president of the Joint Liability Group (JLG) that had taken up the project, said that the land had been lying fallow for over two decades. The land had become a waste dumping ground before it was registered under the JLG in Chottanikkara block panchayat by five friends. It was cleared and tilled for sowing by the JLG comprising Shiji, Mani M.G., Joshi Nedumparambil, Suresh V.G., and Elias E.V. The Kanayannoor Service Cooperative Bank provided support by giving an interest-free loan. Grama panchayat vice-president Rees Puthenveetil, block member Nishad N. K. Janaki Krishnan, agriculture officer Bijumon Zakaria, and ward member Johnson Thomas were present at the function.
