The poor rainfall in the state is proving to be a major hindrance with regards to the experiments that farmers in Kumbalangi panchayat have been carrying out. Farmers cultivating various crops under the Sustainable Agricultural project are facing a bitter experience with the poor rainfall this monsoon.
The Sustainable Agricultural project for Kumbalangi-Chellanam-Kumbalam panchayats was launched early this year. In Kumbalangi, the project was initiated and implemented as an extension of the Kumbalangi Model Tourism village started in 2002. Following its success in the initial phase, Chellanam and Kumbalam were also incorporated into the project.
In the initial phase, two chickens each were distributed to all BPL families in the three villages and five goats each were given to Kudumbashree units.
However, it was the Kumbalangi Panchayat which dared to bring in some revolutionary experiments in the form of inter-crop which included cultivation of even spices.
There was an effort to cultivate ginger and turmeric as an inter crop in coconut plantations. While ginger cultivation was not successful, turmeric grew in the sandy soil of this coastal village.
Setting another model, the panchayat launched another project under which plantains were cultivated as inter-crop in pokkali paddy fields. Plantains were planted along the borders (varambu) of the paddyfield.
“Though the change in climate has affected cultivation of all crops, paddy where pokkali is cultivated has been the most affected. This year the panchayat distributed high yielding seed Vyttila-6,” said Kumbalangi panchayat president Usha Pradeep.
“Since it’s an issue related to climate we are helpless. What the panchayat can do is to help farmers to get some financial assistance from the government. The agricultural officer will estimate the loss suffered by farmers,” she added.
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