Minister for Agriculture Mullakara Ratnakaran has stressed the need for stringent laws to prevent 'land sharks' from appropriating and converting farmland. The Minister said the shift from multi-crop to mono-crop cultivation had affected agricultural biodiversity in Kerala.
"Paddy fields are the richest biodiversity region, second only to forests. Unfortunately, a major portion of farmland is now in the hands of the land mafia. It will take a political and social movement and enormous will to release and restore them."Mr. Ratnakaran said farmers should be entrusted with the protection of farmland. "No one conserves biodiversity quite like foodgrain farmers. "Hence, they should be given ownership of farmland. Society also has a responsibility to ensure that farmers are properly remunerated for conservation of biodiversity."The Minister also called for conserving water bodies such as ponds, streams and springs.
The Hindu, 23May 2008
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