“In Venkitangu area, some of the Kole fields have given up to 3,200 kg of paddy per acre (7.904 kg per hectare),” N.R. Unnikrishnan, secretary of the Kizhakke Karimbadam Kole Farmers’ Association, told VillageSquare.in. “This had dropped to below 2,000 kg per acre due to the drought and salinization.”
Considering that paddy can yield up to 60% of its weight as rice, Unnikrishnan’s figure would mean a rice yield of 4,750 kg per hectare in Venkitangu. According to Kerala Government’s Economic Review 2016, the state’s average rice productivity is 2,790 kg per hectare.
Drastic drop
A deficit southwest monsoon in 2016, followed by a near-absent northeast monsoon has caused a drastic drop in the flow of fresh water into the system. With upstream reservoirs going down to their dead storage water levels during the harsh summer of this year, the authorities first rationed and have now almost stopped releasing fresh water into the system. Since the truant monsoon played havoc with the calendar for opening and closing the shutter of the barrages, there has been an inward movement of saline water into the paddy fields adding to the agony of the farmers.
“This is the worst, long lasting drought that I have seen in my lifetime, said M.R. Mohanan, president of the Manalur Kole Farmers’ Association. “Even though we have had droughts before it did not last this long and was never so severe,” said the 62-year-old farmers’ representative.
According to the Economic Review, during 2016-17 Kerala had a deficit of 34% during the southwest monsoon (1352.3 mm instead of the average of 2039.7 mm) and a deficit of 62% during the northeast monsoon (185.0 mm instead of 480.7 mm).
The erratic monsoon caused confusion in the barrage management calendar, which in turn caused the ingress of saline water from the estuary. “Even though the southwest monsoon did not live up to the expectations the farmers and the irrigation department authorities expected the northeast monsoon to be normal, and thus did not take the necessary precautions,” said K. Manoj, a software professional who is also a Kole farmer and a birdwatcher.
Delay in embanking
To prevent salt water from coming in during the dry season, the irrigation department constructs a temporary earthen bund (embankment) on the inner side of the barrages. In 2016-17 these bunds were not constructed on time, adding to the problem. For instance, at Enamavu where the largest barrage in Thrissur district is located, the earthen bund was constructed only by February, whereas it should have been up by December, Mohanan said.
“The construction and breaking of the earthen bund is an annual feature at the expense of much money. But unfortunately it is not done taking into consideration the special requirements of each year,” said Mohanan. “This year we have petitioned the irrigation department officials and the district collector to let it stand till the time there is enough evidence that the monsoon is going to be normal.”