Kerala State Land Use Board project to transform wasteland in Kattakada assembly constituency into fertile farmland

Time of India

22-05-2025

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Land Use Board (KSLUB) identified 271.22 hectares of wasteland, including private land, in the six panchayats under Kattakada assembly constituency as part of 'Jaivasamridhikoppam Kattakada' project.
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The initiative is envisioned to convert cultivable wastelands in the constituency into agricultural lands, promote organic farming and achieve agricultural self-sufficiency. The project is being implemented in Malayinkeezhu, Pallichal, Kattakada, Vilavoorkal, Vilappil and Maranalloor panchayats.
As a preliminary step, a fruit-plant cluster is being formed at Keleswaram in Pallichal and a Poshaka Thottam of medicinal plants at Kulathottumala in Kattakada.
Fruit crops are being planted at Pottayil in Vilavoorkal and mushroom cultivation is already taking place in Vilappil. Vegetables, plantain crops and watermelon cultivation are also ongoing in Maranalloor.
The fallow lands were identified through a survey conducted by KSLUB officials with the help of village officers and officials from the agriculture department, fisheries, animal husbandry, local self-department and others.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Kudumbasree workers are also involved in the process. Landowners will receive the necessary assistance to start farming, and if they are not interested, the land will be leased for farming with the help of interested farming groups.
"The project was even lauded at the UN as a 'model of convergence' as it is implemented with the cooperation of various departments.
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It was planned with zero budget and if funds are needed, they can be made available from the plan funds of all the departments. KSLUB has prepared a crop calendar featuring short-term crops that will yield by the Onam season, as well as long-term crops for obtaining yields over longer periods.
In the crop calendar, suitable untapped crops have been recommended to ensure better returns for farmers. Other variety crops such as rambutan, groundnuts, sweet potato and corn are also being planted.
In 20 acres, paddy will be cultivated and in 25 acres, rambutan," said IB Satheesh, MLA.
A registration drive will also be held in the constituency to find youngsters willing to commence farming on leased lands, the officials said.
"The department has also put forward a product plan for the constituency. The project also focuses on the industrial processing of agricultural produce and converting it into value-added products through initiatives undertaken by the industries department. Land use maps, including survey numbers, have been made available to agricultural officers as part of the project. Based on the crop suitability assessment as per field surveys, slope, soil type and land use pattern of the region, as well as on the grounds of field verification, a draft DPR has been prepared wherein suitable crops are suggested," said land use commissioner Yasmin L Rasheed.