'Paddy field conversion poses grave threat'
Posing a grave threat to the environment and food security, about 41,000 hectares of paddy field in Kerala have been converted into cash crop gardens or real estate in the last two years.
By PTI |
THRISSUR: Posing a grave threat to the environment and food security, about 41,000 hectares of paddy field in Kerala have been converted into cash crop gardens or real estate in the last two years, a farm workers union alleged here on Saturday.
While the state's staple food requirement was about 60 lakh tons a year, domestic production had slid 'dangerously' around seven lakh tons forcing it to rely heavily on neighbouring states, Deseeya Karshaka Thozhilali Federation president P C Radhakrishnan told a press meet here.
The trend of converting rice fields into real estate properties had gained momentum over the last few years with land prices soaring to fancy levels, he said.
Though farmers' unions and environmental campaigners had repeatedly brought the dangers involved in the process to the notice of the ministries that ruled the state over the years, no firm steps had been taken to arrest the trend, he said.
While those in power made strong statements on their commitment to protect the remaining paddy fields, the reclamation of whatever little rice production base remained commercial purposes was going on.
He alleged that most of the offices of the ruling CPI-M were built on paddy fields converted into construction plots.
On its part, the Federation would step up struggle against paddy field conversion, he added.
While the state's staple food requirement was about 60 lakh tons a year, domestic production had slid 'dangerously' around seven lakh tons forcing it to rely heavily on neighbouring states, Deseeya Karshaka Thozhilali Federation president P C Radhakrishnan told a press meet here.
The trend of converting rice fields into real estate properties had gained momentum over the last few years with land prices soaring to fancy levels, he said.
Though farmers' unions and environmental campaigners had repeatedly brought the dangers involved in the process to the notice of the ministries that ruled the state over the years, no firm steps had been taken to arrest the trend, he said.
While those in power made strong statements on their commitment to protect the remaining paddy fields, the reclamation of whatever little rice production base remained commercial purposes was going on.
He alleged that most of the offices of the ruling CPI-M were built on paddy fields converted into construction plots.
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On its part, the Federation would step up struggle against paddy field conversion, he added.
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