Madikkai panchayat in the district reaped a rich paddy harvest in 30 acres at the Keekanam locality. The nearby paddy fields are also ready for harvest.
Concerned over the land that had been kept fallow for decades, the panchayat had resolved to encourage paddy cultivation by coordinating various agencies and sowed ‘Athira’ and ‘Uma’ varieties at Keekanam. Revenue Divisional Officer P.K. Jayashree inaugurated the harvest programme amid festive ambience on Tuesday.
The grama panchayat utilised the services of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers, Kudumbasree units, and the local Krishi Bhavan in the project.
The local body roped in other agencies and took up cultivation in 14-odd fallow paddy fields and constructed check-dams across streams to help the farmers.
The stakeholders are awaiting better harvest at the nearby Kakkat and Theeyarpalam paddy fields, panchayat president C. Prabhakaran said.
