Thottarapuncha, the rice barn of Ernakulam, lying fallow for several decades, has come alive for paddy cultivation this season, thanks to joint efforts by the district administration and the Department of Agriculture. District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Sarifulla said that the ‘Thottara’ brand of rice would hit the market in April this year.
It is expected that around 1,500 tonnes of paddy will be produced on 525 acres that have been brought under cultivation this season, said a press release here. Around 300 tonnes of rice will be made available under the proposed brand.
A rice mill, costing approximately ₹40 lakh, will be set up. Kudumbashree mission members will be entrusted with the task of milling paddy, the release added.
The Thottarapuncha paddy collective is spread over Amballoor and Edakkattuvayal in Ernakulam district as well as Velloor in Kottayam district. The entire paddy collective is around 1,200 acres. Of this, around 350 acres were brought under paddy cultivation last season. This season’s cultivation is in the paddy collectives of Kaippattoor, Thottara, Ayyankunnu, Manakkathazham, Kunnamkulam, Thottara, Thollikkiri, Virippichalu, and Kannenkari. Besides the departments of Agriculture and Irrigation, local bodies at Edakkattuvayal and Amballoor are part of the rice cultivation efforts. The Kerala Land Development Corporation and KSEB too are cooperating in the mission, the press release said.
