The Agriculture Department is preparing to revive paddy cultivation in Wayanad as a part of observing 2017 as Year of Rice in the State.
Though paddy cultivation had spread over 30,000 hectares of land in 1980s, land used for the purpose has shrunk to nearly 8,000 hectares now, according to the Agriculture Department.
To other crops
Many rice farmers turned to other profitable crops such as banana, ginger and arecanut or kept the land fallow owing to the low income from rice cultivation.
“The department has earmarked ₹2.93 crore this year for schemes to rejuvenate rice cultivation in the district. We are planning to expand rice cultivation to 1,000 hectares this season,” Shajan Thomas, Principal Agricultural Officer in-charge told The Hindu . To provide incentives to paddy farmers, ₹1.35 crore had been earmarked, Mr. Thomas said. Under the scheme, those engaged in group farming would be provide an incentive of ₹1,500 a hectare.
A sum of ₹10,000 a hectare would be provided to promote scented and medicinal rice varieties cultivation and ₹60.5 lakh had been allotted for the purpose. The department planned to expand the cultivation of such rice varieties on 605 hectares this season.
Paadasekhara samitis would be given ₹360 a hectare as operational support for organising group farming activities.
The scheme would be executed on 4,223 hectares for which ₹15.24 lakh had been granted.
On fallow land
For promoting rice cultivation on fallow land, ₹36 lakh would be utilised and cultivation would be launched on 120 hectares of fallow land. Farmers would get ₹30,000 for a hectare under the scheme.
Moreover ₹13,600 a hectare would be given for upland paddy cultivation and 50 hectares would be utilised for the purpose. To convert single crop cultivation to double crop cultivation, an incentive of ₹10,000 a hectare would be given where irrigation facilities were available.
For promoting rice cultivation in schools, ₹5 lakh had been earmarked. All the schemes were being executed through 26 Krishi Bhavans in the district. More details can be had from the nearest Krishi Bhavans, Mr. Thomas added.
