The heritage village of Aranmula is in a festive mood to celebrate the paddy harvest festival after 15 years.
The Agriculture Department has made elaborate arrangements to launch paddy harvest in the Ayyankoickal fields, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sowed seeds on October 29, 2016.
The department and the irrigation wing of the Water Resources Department joined hands six months ago to launch cultivation in the heavily weeded Aranmula Puncha that had been lying fallow for the past 15 years.
Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar had taken special interest in reviving paddy cultivation.
The government deputed Agriculture Officer J. Sajeev as the special officer of its Mission Green Aranmula programme. Paddy cultivation had been taken up in 87 hectares against the original target of 56 hectares.
25 more hectares
“Efforts are on to launch cultivation in another 25 hectares in March,” he said. Farmers are enthusiastic to take part in the paddy revolution.
“The government has also decided to launch a new rice brand, Aranmula Puncha Rice,” Mr. Sunil Kumar said. Works Minister G. Sudhakaran will release the logo of the brand after the inauguration of the harvest festival on Monday by the Agriculture Minister.
The government had approved the project in 56 hectares at an estimate of ₹153.76 lakh and sanctioned ₹50 lakh.
But, cultivation could be launched in 87 hectares, spending ₹24 lakh.
