KANNUR: Kerala has lost huge expanses of paddy fields in the past few decades and we have just around 2.75 lakh hectares of paddy field left in the state compared to over nine lakh hectares thirty years back thus resulting in major reduction in paddy production, according to experts.
"Though we require over 40 lakh tonnes of rice per year today, our production is just six lakh tonnes and we have to depend on other states for our needs," said A S Anilkumar, agronomy professor at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, addressing a seminar organized by the Department of Agriculture in Kasargod collectorate on Thursday.
Since the lost paddy fields cannot be reclaimed, then only way is to increase the productivity in the remaining paddy fields through mechanization and modern methods of cultivation, he said. Thought this the issue of labourer scarcity can also be effectively addressed.
"As of now we produce only five tonnes of paddy per hectare, and this should be increased to at least 10 tonnes," he said pointing out that in the states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh the production is to the tune of 20 tonnes per hectare.
Earlier, agriculture minister K P Mohanan distributed Rs one lakh each to ten Padasekhara Samithis in the district in a separate function in the same venue.