Government to increase area under paddy cultivation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Paddy cultivation is witnessing a revival in Thiruvananthapuram district. The area under active paddy cultivation in the district went up by another 15 acres on Wednesday with a harvest.

The Krishi Bhavan at Andoorkonam joined hands with the District Panchayat and the Rotary Club, Kazhakootam, to cultivate 15 acres under Pallipuram ‘Ela’ near Kaniyapuram. The harvest held on Wednesday was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar. The plan is to bring 200 acres in the region under paddy cultivation

The harvest was part of a state-wide initiative of the Agriculture Department to convert fallow land into paddy fields. Sunil Kumar said the government intended to convert more land in the state lying fallow into cultivable land. So far, paddy cultivation has been re-launched in 32,000 acres of land across the state, he said. The aim is to bring one lakh hectares under paddy cultivation in the next three years. Raman Nair, who led the cultivation in Pallipuram Ela was felicitated by the minister.

The Rotary Club, so far, has undertaken paddy farming in 250 acres. The rice is sold in the market under the brand name ‘Reap.’