Harvesting of paddy begins in Kuttanad

The harvest of paddy crops cultivated in the additional (second) crop season has begun in Kuttanad. The 133.4-hectare Ezhamkari Kizhake paddy polder at Karuvatta was the first to go under combine harvesters. A total of 170 farmers cultivated Uma rice variety at the polder. Paddy was harvested after attaining a growth of 135 days.

Farmers have undertaken paddy farming on 7,224 hectares in the additional season in Kuttanad. A total of 10,095 farmers of 123 paddy polders under 14 Krishi Bhavans in Ambalappuzha, Alappuzha, Champakulam, Haripad, and Ramankary blocks have taken up the additional crop cultivation this season. Of the total area, 91% has been sown with the Uma variety. Apart from Uma, Pournami and Manuratna varieties have also been cultivated.

In three paddy fields covering 138.52 hectares under the Punnapra North and Alappuzha municipality Krishi Bhavans, Manuratna seeds supplied through the Seed Village Scheme of the Alappuzha District Panchayat and the Agriculture department were sown.

Though the harvest has begun, the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) has not yet commenced paddy procurement. Officials said that talks were ongoing with mills and an agreement was expected soon. Last season, the agency purchased paddy at ₹28.20 per kg, which includes the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹23 provided by the Union government and the State government’s ₹5.20 incentive bonus.

The procurement price has remained unchanged since 2022-23. Though the Centre raised the MSP by ₹1.17 to ₹23 in June last year, the State offset it by reducing the bonus by the same amount to keep the price at ₹28.20. In addition to the procurement price, farmers are entitled to receive 12 paise per kg as handling charges.

Earlier this season, the Kerala Centre for Pest Management (KCPM) issued an alert over white-backed planthopper, stemborer and leaf folder infestations in paddy fields in Kuttanad. The presence of white-backed planthopper was confirmed in fields under Thakazhi, Kainakary, and Karuvatta Krishi Bhavans. Stemborer and leaf folder were detected in fields under Nedumudi, Karuvatta, Thakazhi and Punnapra North Krishi Bhavans. The situation has since been brought under control.

Meanwhile, preparations of fields for the upcoming ‘puncha’ (first) crop season have begun in the region. The puncha season witnesses the most extensive acreage of paddy cultivation in Kuttanad.