The Hindu Business Line : Special region, special solutions

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Special region, special solutions

K.G. Kumar

Plans for the revival of the Kuttanad wetland region should be welcome as it is not only a highly productive ecosystem and source of biodiversity but also a symbol of the State's social and cultural vibrancy.

Last week renowned agricultural scientist Dr M.S. Swaminathan toured the Kuttanad area of Alappuzha district in Kerala for almost a week. His was no holiday trip. Rather, as part of a commission appointed by the Union Government to formulate a special action plan for the region, Dr Swaminathan was leading a team to assess the special natural, physical, socio-economic and cultural characteristics that make Kuttanad a unique region.

As anyone who has visited the "rice bowl of Kerala" - perhaps the adjective "erstwhile" should be used to qualify that label, given the drastic decline of rice production in the region - will testify, Kuttanad boasts some exceptional natural features. It is the lowest region of India, with 500 sq km lying below sea level, and an elevation ranging from 0.6 m above sea level to 2.2 m below sea level. Most of Kuttanad is inundated throughout the year, and it is one of the few places in the world where farming (main crops grown: rice, bananas, tapioca and yams) is carried out below sea level.

Kuttanad is fed by four of Kerala's major rivers - the Pampa, Meenachil, Achankovil and Manimala. Ironically enough, despite being surrounded by water, Kuttanad suffers from an acute shortage of potable water.

These special biophysical traits also determine the nature and pace of life in Kuttanad. To the casual visiting tourist, the placid tempo of day-to-day activities in the backwaters of the region may appear quaintly appealing, but for the nearly 2 million people who inhabit Kuttanad, the tribulations outnumber the pleasures of eking out a livelihood in this waterlogged region. It was thus only appropriate that the Swaminathan Commission chose to address precisely these very issues.

Considering the region's specificities, the Commission has suggested it be made into a Special Agricultural Zone (SAZ) on the lines of the Special Economic Zones that exist in several parts of the country. The Central Government hopes to particularly promote SAZs in those areas where agriculture is crucial, both as a way of life and as a source of income and livelihood. Importantly, the method chosen for this should attempt to blend traditional wisdom with modern technology.

The Swaminathan Commission feels Kuttanad is an ideal candidate for such a zone, and the conservation and enhancement of paddy farming systems in the area would benefit both the State and the nation. Towards this end, the Commission, based on discussions with farmers, labourers, fishing communities and other stakeholders, identified some urgent tasks that need to be accomplished before the onset of the southwest monsoon.

These include repair and maintenance of the Thottapally spillway, deepening of the eastern and western side of the leading canal, strengthening the outer bund (low embankment) flanking the leading canal, and repair and completion of the Alappuzha-Changanassery canal.

The Commission also pointed to the need for a revolution in farm management through restructured padasekarams (collective paddy or farm lands) supported by common service centres, appropriate farm machinery, quality seeds and post-harvest support systems.

Responding to these observations, the State Finance Minister, Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac, said that the Kerala Government would launch an integrated farming initiative for the comprehensive development of Kuttanad, based on the Commission's recommendations. The strategy would give equal focus to development of paddy cultivation, augmentation of fish resources and exploitation of the region's tourism potential, without upsetting Kuttanad's ecological balance.

That focus is especially critical, considering that Kuttanad comprises Kerala's largest wetland. The term "wetland" is generally used to describe an area of low-lying land submerged or inundated periodically by fresh or saline water. It is applied to land areas that are seasonally or permanently waterlogged, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, and freshwater marshes. Wetlands support a range of unique vegetation, provide critical habitat for wildlife, and afford numerous benefits for human health and property.

According to William S. Sipple of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water: "Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. They also are a source of substantial biodiversity in supporting numerous species from all of the major groups of organisms - from microbes to mammals. Wetlands were once considered useless, disease-ridden places that were to be avoided. We now realise that wetlands provide many benefits to society - such as fish and wildlife habitats, natural water quality improvement, flood storage, shoreline erosion protection, opportunities for recreation and aesthetic appreciation. Protect- ing wetlands can, in turn, protect our health and safety."

From that point of view, the visit of the Swaminathan Commission to Kuttanad and the newfound interest in the revival of the wetland region is more than welcome. If Kuttanad can be restored to even a pale shadow of its past glory, Kerala can feel proud.

The writer can be contacted at kgkumar@gmail.com

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