PALAKKAD: For former chief secretary and Chief Information Commissioner Palat Mohandas, it’s back to the lap of Mother Nature after being forced to spend a good amount of time in concrete jungles carrying out official duties.Unlike other bureaucrats who tend to go after commercial crops like rubber, cardamom or pepper as an investment bet, Mohandas has opted for a ‘losing proposition’; to start paddy cultivation in a scientific manner! Of the 16 acres of land which lies along the banks of the Bharathapuzha, more than six acres are devoted exclusively for cultivating rice.“A walk through the pathways separating the fields enjoying the cool breeze can never be experienced from any other crops. The large pond with blooming lotuses takes care of the vegetables and fruits which include cabbage cauliflower, coconut, mango, ‘sapota’, gooseberry and other fruits,” says the retired bureaucrat cuddling his four pet dogs, which are all native breeds.“The parameters in the field are different for different farmers. In Punjab Agriculture University, one can see a lot of ordinary farmers. The then vice-chancellor Randhawa often used to summon ordinary farmers to the university, saying the institution was meant for them. But here, the experts from the universities just give advice and return. They are only interested in devising ways to spend the money allotted before the end of the financial year. They neither stay back for a day or two, nor do constant follow up,” says Mohandas.He says that the ordinary farmers have distilled wisdom of generations regarding the soil, climatic conditions, crop pattern etc. “These views should be advocated, not replaced by research institutes,” he opines."However, we have to deal with acute labour shortage. Unfortunately, the ‘Thozhilurappu scheme’ is one of the reasons ,” says Anita, Mohandas’ wife.He points out that unlike the traditional method of sowing paddy seeds, and then transplanting them one by one, here the paddy saplings are grown on a plastic sheet layered with mud. After three weeks, it is cut and transplanted in rows in a systematic manner.Removal of weeds is done through a manual cono weeder. Though combined harvesters are used, the the models manufactured in India are very heavy which destroys the top soil which was enriched over the years. The present harvesters do heavy damage to the top soil.Sporting a cap and gumboots, he shows the 250 litre plastic drum fixed on the edge of the field where ‘Jeevamritham’, an organic fertilizer, is prepared. The ingredients are cow dung, cow’s urine, jaggery and mung bean powder. It is stirred for two days, and after 48 hours, the micro organisms generated are left into the fields to ensure aerobic circulation for paddy.“The younger of my two sons ,Bhaskar who works for a Japanese company, had volunteered to do farm service there without any wages. The Japanese government provides incentives for the youngsters to take up farming,” he says.According to him, in Kerala, majority is small-time farmers are who cannot afford mechanisation. They are also unable to spend time to enrich soil. For example, to saveon labour costs to remove weeds, the farmers spray herbicides before planting the paddy sapling. Unfortunately, all micro organisms which enrich the soil die in the process.“Kerala produces just 12 per cent of the rice it consumes. If nothing is done to save paddy cultivation it could end up in real-estate mafia seizing control of the fields,” he asserts.He points out that paddy farmers are unable to fix the price of their produce unlike the manufacturing industry, where price is fixed at factory gates.“Now I have not plucked my coconuts. The price is just Rs 12 per kilogram, and after the labour costs, there is nothing left for the grower,” laments Mohandas.
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