economics of on-farm development - Institute for Social and ...

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The conversion <strong>of</strong> paddy field, for agricultural and nun-agricultural uses
has been widely debated in the statc. An important finding is that paddy is
rcplaced by coconut in some <strong>of</strong> the dIstricts in the state. The conversion <strong>of</strong> paddy
lands into coconut gardens is a gradual process. wherein two indigenous means
are involved. The conversion and usc <strong>of</strong> paddy fields tor purposes other than
crop cultivation has greater implications in so far as the use <strong>of</strong> irri!!ation water is
concerned. One <strong>of</strong> the important reasons tor paddy land conversion is the decline
in per-capita availability <strong>of</strong> arable land even in irrigation projects. The ayacut
converted (mainly paddy area) tor non-agricultural uses constitute about 15 per
cent in the completed irrigation projects. The proportion <strong>of</strong> ayacut area converted
for non-agricultural uses across the command areas ranged between II per cent
In the Neyyar project to 24.73 per cent in the Karapuzha scheme. A sample
SUf\ey condu~ted in eight completed irrigation projects in the state has revealed
that 19 per cent <strong>of</strong> the farmers have converted their paddy fields permanently.
The proportion <strong>of</strong> area converted was the highest in the Peechi irrigation project
as 56 per cent <strong>of</strong> the farmers reported to have converted their paddy fields and
the area converted was 44 per cent. In the Chalakudy scheme. 43 per cent <strong>of</strong> the
farmers have converted and the paddy area converted was 39 per cent.
In the light <strong>of</strong> this emerging scenario, it has to be tested, may be on an
experimental basis; whether rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> the physical infrastructure for water
d~stribution
followed by assured supply <strong>of</strong> water will influence the farmers
dCClsion on crop divcrsification. therd" arresting the conversion <strong>of</strong> paddy areas.
It appears that even such experiments have very little impact on the process, in
view <strong>of</strong> the comparative pr<strong>of</strong>itability as well as the less labour intensity in the
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