Paddy will be harvested at the Rani kayal fields next week. Farming has been taken up here after a span of over two decades.
Of the wetland fields exceeding 210 hectares here, more than 130 hectares is owned by 570 landowners while the remaining is revenue land.
The government had spent ₹29.75 lakh to strengthen the bunds of the kayal fields.
Funds sanctioned
The Thirteenth Finance Commission had sanctioned ₹3.69 crore for developing infrastructure for farming in the Rani and Chithira kayal fields.
A sum of ₹90 lakh was spent on bringing electricity to both the kayal fields, officials said.
Farming was taken up in the Chithira kayal fields in 2015, but the plan to resume farming in Rani fields did not materialise due to various reasons.
It was in 1992 that farming was taken up at the Rani kayal fields earlier.
Minister’s visit
Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar had visited the area last year and had given directions to resume farming. He had launched the sowing operations there three months ago.
Revival of paddy farming in the wetland fields is part of a government programme to encourage agriculture and counter the designs of those who wanted to convert the fields for alternative purposes. The government is engaged in assessing the exact extent of land under cultivation by using latest technology including deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles.
District Collector Veena N. Madhavan and Principal Agriculture Officer A.G. Abdul Kareem visited the kayal fields on Wednesday to examine the amenities available for harvesting operations.
