Kodikunnil urges PM to announce special package for Kuttanad

Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sanction a comprehensive special Central package for Kuttanad, highlighting its uniqueness as one of the most fragile yet agriculturally rich ecosystems in the country.

In his representation to the Prime Minister, Mr. Suresh emphasised that Kuttanad, known as the rice bowl of Kerala, is not only the birthplace of the legendary agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, the father of India’s Green Revolution, but also the only region in India where large-scale below-sea-level paddy farming is practised.

Kuttanad, recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), sustains a remarkable integration of paddy cultivation, fisheries, duck rearing, and eco-tourism, making it an area of immense economic, ecological, and cultural importance, he said.

The Mavelikara MP pointed out that the region had been reeling under the pressures of frequent floods, salinity intrusion, and the worsening effects of climate change, resulting in distress migration of farmers and the collapse of traditional livelihoods.

He noted that despite the earlier Kuttanad Package I and II, most of the projects remained stalled or underfunded, leaving residents in a prolonged state of crisis.

In his submission, Mr. Suresh urged the Prime Minister to consider the revival and expansion of the earlier Kuttanad packages with adequate funding and monitoring; inclusion of Kuttanad under Ramsar Wetland Conservation Sites; comprehensive flood mitigation and salinity control measures; integrated agro-livelihood support for farming, fisheries, and duck rearing; promotion of eco-tourism and village tourism in heritage clusters such as Veliyanad and Champakulam; inclusion of these regions under Aspirational Blocks; and livelihood security schemes to prevent distress migration.

“Kuttanad is not only a lifeline for lakhs of farmers and fisherfolk but also a living heritage of India’s agrarian resilience and innovation. Its conservation will be a true tribute to the vision of M.S. Swaminathan, who drew inspiration from this land. The Union government should announce a comprehensive special package to secure Kuttanad’s future as a model of climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture,” Mr. Suresh added.