After a long gap of 15 years, paddy cultivation was reintroduced on an experimental basis in the Vilayur village paddy fields in Kerala, marking a significant step for agriculture in the region. The decision to reinitiate the first crop of paddy was taken with hopes of reviving farming in this area, where paddy cultivation had been dormant for more than a decade. The trial involved seven acres of land, where local farmers Rajesh, Manikandan, and Unnikrishnan took the lead in re-establishing this traditional agricultural practice.
With the region experiencing a break in rainfall, a harvesting machine was brought in from Thrissur to facilitate the harvest, as manual labour was hard to come by. The cost of renting this machine amounted to Rs 2,400 per hour, highlighting the additional expense farmers had to incur due to the labour shortage. This lack of available workers has become one of the biggest challenges for farmers in the area, making mechanized harvesting a necessity rather than a choice.
In addition to labour issues, the farmers also face difficulties related to irrigation. The absence of permanent solutions for water management is a long-standing problem, affecting the consistency and sustainability of paddy cultivation in the region. Nevertheless, the farmers went ahead with the cultivation using Jyothi paddy seeds, a variety known for its resilience.
Despite facing several challenges, such as pest infestations and weather-related issues, the experimental crop yielded positive results. Lack of labour is the main problem faced by the farmers. The lack of permanent solutions for irrigation also plagues farmers.
Farmer K. Rajesh expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the harvest was successful, and the efforts made by the local farming community have paid off. This initiative may pave the way for a more sustainable approach to paddy farming in the region, offering hope for the revival of agriculture in Vilayur.
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