The Union Ministry of Agriculture has provided a budget of Rs 460-crore project for eco-restoration and livelihood enhancement of riverine flood plains in the Upper Kuttanad region. The region is spread across the three districts of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Alappuzha.
The report was prepared by the Upper Kuttanad Karshika Vikasana Samiti (UKKVS) and the initiative taken by Suresh Gopi, MP.
The Union Ministry also suggested that fragmented wetlands in the region may be maintained as a bird sanctuary.
According to a report by the Hindu, Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar forwarded a piece of official information to Suresh Gopi stating that the Union had cleared a Rs 100-crore pilot project for Chennithala for expanding local food production and nutritional security.
The Upper Kuttanad Karshika Vikasana Samiti has been asked to provide a detailed report to the Union Ministry with independent activities that have to be initiated in the area. The Union Ministry will further take a course of action for the convergence of activities under related Central schemes in Kuttanad region.
The ecology of Kuttanad has been considered as a Globally Important Agriculture Heritage System (GIAHS). Natural or organic farming should be promoted to retain a rich natural flora and fauna. This will further help in increasing the farmers’ income.
The UKKVS chairman, Gopan Chennithala, told The Hindu that the project was aimed at comprehensive development of the farm sector in Upper Kuttanad thereby improving the State’s food security to a great extent.
The Upper Kuttanad project will cover 21 grama panchayats and four municipalities and the pilot project will be implemented in 18 wards of the Chennithala-Tripperunthura grama panchayat. The proposed project further be of great help in enhancing the standard of living of the farming community in Upper Kuttanad.
