The harvest of paddy crops cultivated successful the further (second) harvest play has begun successful Kuttanad. The 133.4-hectare Ezhamkari Kizhake paddy polder astatine Karuvatta was the archetypal to spell nether harvester harvesters. A full of 170 farmers cultivated Uma atom assortment astatine the polder. Paddy was harvested aft attaining a maturation of 135 days.
Farmers person undertaken paddy farming connected 7,224 hectares successful the further play successful Kuttanad. A full of 10,095 farmers of 123 paddy polders nether 14 Krishi Bhavans successful Ambalappuzha, Alappuzha, Champakulam, Haripad, and Ramankary blocks person taken up the further harvest cultivation this season. Of the full area, 91% has been sown with the Uma variety. Apart from Uma, Pournami and Manuratna varieties person besides been cultivated.
In 3 paddy fields covering 138.52 hectares nether the Punnapra North and Alappuzha municipality Krishi Bhavans, Manuratna seeds supplied done the Seed Village Scheme of the Alappuzha District Panchayat and the Agriculture section 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 statement was expected soon. Last season, the bureau purchased paddy astatine ₹28.20 per kg, which includes the minimum enactment terms (MSP) of ₹23 provided by the Union authorities and the State government’s ₹5.20 inducement bonus.
The procurement terms has remained unchanged since 2022-23. Though the Centre raised the MSP by ₹1.17 to ₹23 successful June past year, the State offset it by reducing the bonus by the aforesaid magnitude to support the terms astatine ₹28.20. In summation to the procurement price, farmers are entitled to person 12 paise per kg arsenic handling charges.
Earlier this season, the Kerala Centre for Pest Management (KCPM) issued an alert implicit white-backed planthopper, stemborer and leafage folder infestations successful paddy fields successful Kuttanad. The beingness of white-backed planthopper was confirmed successful fields nether Thakazhi, Kainakary, and Karuvatta Krishi Bhavans. Stemborer and leafage folder were detected successful fields nether Nedumudi, Karuvatta, Thakazhi and Punnapra North Krishi Bhavans. The concern has since been brought nether control.
Meanwhile, preparations of fields for the upcoming ‘puncha’ (first) harvest play person begun successful the region. The puncha play witnesses the astir extended acreage of paddy cultivation successful Kuttanad.
