Mangilikari farmers feeling the heat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The much-hyped paddy cultivation development project initiated by the MLAs in Thiruvananthapuram, inspired by the concept `Ellarum Padathekku,' is turning out to be yet another stunt by our politicians.  The farmers of the Mangilikari paddy field near Vellayani, who have been entrusted with the task of nurturing the paddy saplings planted by the MLAs are feeling the heat as various promises made by the authorities prior to the project, including timely allotment of funds and efficient irrigation facilities, are yet to be fulfilled. The committee of farmers of the Mangilikari field had planted paddy saplings in around four hectares. They had to spent more than Rs. 60,000 till date towards the cost of paddy saplings and labour charges. But they have no idea when the amount will be refunded.  The promise by the Agriculture Department was Rs.1 lakh as expenses for five hectares of land. They vowed to give the amount in instalments but the first instalment is yet to be realised. In addition, the farmers were promised a share of the profit.  Taking a cue from the attitude of the officials, the farmers at Melancode Mangilikari field had stopped all activities.  They insist that ploughing of the land will be carried out only after ensuring uninterrupted supply of water.  ``We are not sure when will our expenses be reimbursed. Now, they say that they will pay the money only after the harvest,'' said Balakrishna Panicker, a farmer who is part of the team that cultivate paddy at Melancode.  ``Paddy cultivation would become successful here only if three basic problems are tackled. This include renovation of a canal (Karathode) through which water is brought near the paddy fields, setting up of a permanent motor pump for irrigation and increasing the depth of Kannukali Channel. We have been told  that all these would be done in due course. But the authorities are not taking any step to solve these issues,'' said Purushothaman, a traditional farmer and one of the locals who has taken up the challenge at Mangilikari to do farming on behalf of the MLAs.  ``Irrigation is crucial for paddy cultivation. Owing to the lack of irrigation facilities, paddy sapplings in certain fields have already started wilting. A lion's share of the seeds which were sowed have not germinated either. Despite our repeated pleas, no action has been taken yet,'' he said.  While forming the committees for the project, officials of the Agriculture Department assured the farmers that money wouldn't be a problem and would be given to them part by part as the work progresses. But, now even the officials are not giving them any assurances.  Two separate committees have been formed to do cultivation in five hectares of paddy fields each at Mangilikari (Kalliyoor Panchayat limits) and at Melancode-Mangilikari (City Corporation limits). The farmers started preparing these fields for cultivation, which had been left fallow for the past several years, from January 5 onwards.  During the formal inauguration, Agricultural Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said that the revenue generated from the project would be donated to the Farmer Welfare Fund.  The Minister kept mum on the promise of awarding a share of the profit to the farmers. 


The New Indian Express, 21st January 2009