Farmers in Kerala’s Alappuzha protest as rising salinity threatens paddy cultivation

Farmers protest in Kerala demanding action against rising salinity levels threatening paddy cultivation in Alappuzha district.

As rising salinity levels in waterbodies threaten ‘puncha’ paddy cultivation in Kuttanad and other parts of Alappuzha district in Kerala, farmers under the aegis of Aikya Kuttanad Padasekhara Ekopana Samithi took to the streets on Monday (February 3, 2025). They took out a protest march to Alappuzha District Collectorate, demanding urgent measures to reduce salinity and protect rice cultivation.

Farmers have undertaken paddy farming on over 25,000 hectares in the ongoing ‘puncha’ crop season in the district, a major portion of which is in Kuttanad.

Ryots said that salinity levels had exceeded 2 ppt, the allowable limit for rice cultivation, at several places. “Saline water has entered several fields in the region and farmers are facing huge losses. Despite numerous pleas, authorities have failed to either construct or properly seal ‘orumuttu’ (temporary structures) at various places in time to prevent seawater from entering waterbodies and further into fields. We want the State government to compensate the losses,” said Siji Chacko, secretary, Aikya Kuttanad Padasekhara Ekopana Samithi.

Last week, an emergency meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister P. Prasad decided to request the Pathanamthitta district administration to release 100 cumecs of water per second from the Maniyar Dam during low tide to bring down salinity levels. Farmers said that water had not been released yet.

“This shows that there is no coordination among government departments. The government should immediately appoint a nodal officer for releasing water from dams,” Mr. Siji added.

According to Agriculture department officials, saline water primarily enters rivers, canals, streams and other waterbodies from Kayamkulam Lake. Farmers, however, said that seawater was also entering the region through the Thanneermukkom barrage over Vembanad Lake and “dysfunctional” shutters of the Thottappally spillway. Though the Irrigation department closed the shutters of the Thanneermukkom bund last month, farmers allege that seawater is still seeping in under the gates.

Earlier, the Agriculture Minister directed officials to conduct an inspection and ensure that all ‘orumuttu’ are sealed and that no saline water is entering canals and streams close to paddy fields. Officials on Monday said that closing the ‘orumuttu’ at Kannukali bridge would take a few more days.