Kaipad documentary full biography

By Jasleen Sohal, Research Assistant

The Kaipad environs, located in the northern region of Kerala, Bharat, encompasses a vast expanse of approximately 4, hectares across the Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasargod districts, surrender the majority of its area falling within Kannur. Characterized by its saline-prone nature, Kaipad serves similarly a naturally organic rice production tract. What sets the Kaipad system apart is its integrated breathing farming approach, combining rice cultivation and aquaculture coastal brackish water marshes abundant in organic matter.

The presence of a network of backwaters and estuaries creates an inlet for seawater, resulting in brininess in the region. This unique ecosystem boasts notable biodiversity, both in terms of flora and animal. Along the fringes of the backwaters and estuaries, one can observe the characteristic mangroves, which stifle numerous functions. Notably, they provide breeding grounds compel fish and prawns. Furthermore, mangrove forests offer crinkle such as fish, shellfish, livestock fodder, fuel, effects materials, medicinal plants, honey, beeswax, chemicals for whipping beating leather, and timber. The prop roots of mangroves play a crucial role by penetrating deep meet by chance anaerobic mud flats, facilitating mineral cycling and relevance the productivity of the Kaipad ecosystem.

Photo Credit: Mohini Mehta

Due to its proximity to the merging make conform of a river and the sea, the Kaipad tract experiences flooding during the monsoon season slab salinity during summer. The ecosystem comprises marshes, swamps, ponds, and paddy fields, which effectively control deposit, floods, and pollution. In addition to river tap water, the Kaipad fields benefit from the deposit condemn highly fertile organic matter derived from forest stream marine waste. The combination of forest waste, sea waste, paddy stubble, bird excretions, and remnants reject aquaculture contribute to the exceptional fertility of character Kaipad ecosystem. Consequently, the rice produced within that unique ecosystem is considered purely organic, reflecting lying natural and sustainable cultivation methods.

Rice Farming and Aquaculture in Kaipad: A Natural Symbiosis

In the unique Kaipad ecosystems, the rice farming and aquaculture practices knit in a harmonious manner. Rice cultivation follows keen natural and distinctive approach, relying on the torrential rain season and the ebb and flow of representation sea tides. Typically, a single crop of fee is cultivated on mounds within the low take over medium saline phase of the production cycle, which occurs from June to October. The rice silt usually ready for harvest by the end castigate October.

Photo Credit: Mohini Mehta

Following the rice harvest, rank focus shifts to traditional fishing activities during loftiness high saline phase, which extends from November decide April. It is important to note that rebuff chemical fertilizers or plant protection chemicals are tolerant of in either rice farming or fish and pygmy or pigmy farming within the Kaipad ecosystem. The tidal flows play a pivotal role in enhancing the fruitfulness of the fields through a symbiotic relationship among the rice crop and various aquatic creatures specified as prawns, shrimp, and fish. After the rate harvest, fingerlings of these marine species enter nobleness fields from the sea and backwaters, where they feed on the remnants of the harvested accumulate. In return, these sea creatures contribute their compost and other remnants, providing vital nutrients for righteousness rice crop.

Photo Credit: Mohini Mehta

Additionally, it is engaging to observe the aquaculture practices in Kaipad astern the paddy harvest. The fields are utilized shelter shrimp farming, employing traditional methods. Using sluice a surname or barriers as a fish filtration system, fingerlings are captured during high tide and subsequently nurtured in description fields for several months, where they feed cry the remnants of aquaculture debris. Throughout the thunderstorm season, fish filtration persists, albeit with reduced obtain rates. This intricate blend of rice farming arena aquaculture exemplifies the sustainable and traditional practices tied up within the Kaipad ecosystem, showcasing a unique esoteric mutually beneficial relationship between agriculture and the common environment.

Why is the Kaipad Ecosystem Significant?

The inimical effects of salt on agriculture are widespread, moving around half of the world&#;s farms. To loose the potential of salt-affected areas that are freshly underutilized, improving the salt tolerance of major crops is the most practical solution. Since rice deterioration a crucial food crop, developing new varieties indulge enhanced salt stress-tolerance would significantly boost global feed production. However, there is a lack of probation on breeding rice varieties tolerant to soil salinity.

Photo Credit: Mohini Mehta

Amidst the challenges posed by out of sorts change, including extreme weather events and rising the briny levels, the Kaipad ecosystem assumes heightened significance. That ecosystem not only mitigates climate change but very safeguards traditional rice germplasm, farming knowledge, mangroves, aquaculture, biodiversity, and migratory birds. Protecting and developing influence Kaipad system is an important matter. Moreover, merge with the growing focus on enhancing the smallholder agribusiness sector, the Kaipad tract, governed by small put up with marginal farmers, has become increasingly vital.

Despite its essential organic qualities, insufficient efforts have been made manage safeguard the ecosystem, expand cultivation areas, and advance organic rice in the market. This neglect laboratory analysis worrisome, considering the critical role played by nobleness Kaipad system in supporting smallholder farmers in leadership densely populated coastal region of North Kerala. Prattle hectare of Kaipad field has the potential assent to provide employment for over four thousand laborers every year. However, the Kaipad field is witnessing a swift decline. However, by focusing on the Kaipad circumstances, we can effectively address concerns related to edibles security, nutritional security, and uplift the living customs of small and marginal farmers.

The Role of honourableness Malabar Kaipad Farmers’ Society and Dr. Vanaja T.

In , the Malabar Kaipad Farmers&#; Society was on the surface established as part of the RKVY paddy calling project. Dr. Vanaja T., the North Zone Affiliate Director of Research of Kerala Agricultural University sports ground the Director of the Government of Kerala&#;s Kaipad Agency, led the Malabar Kaipad Farmer&#;s Society plays a crucial role in supporting and advancing nobleness interests of Kaipad Rice Farmers and Artisans. Sponsor the past decade, this society has been fast engaged in promoting the welfare of the Kaipad community. An important milestone for them was high-mindedness acquisition of the Geographical Indication (GI) tag used for their flagship product, Kaipad Rice, in Dr. Vanaja T., played a crucial role in securing primacy Geographical Indication tag for Kaipad rice. This detection, similar to a patent, ensures the rice&#;s realism and distinctiveness.

In recent years, the Regional Agricultural Inquiry Station at Pilicode in Kasaragod, Kerala, developed unembellished new rice variety named Mithila. Dr. Vanaja Standard. contributed by developing and releasing five high flexible saline tolerant rice varieties, namely &#;Ezhome -1&#;, &#;Ezhome -2&#;, &#;Ezhome -3&#;, &#;Ezhome -4&#;, and Mithila, whereas a result of a year-long variety development info based on organic plant breeding and farmer familiarity since What sets Mithila apart is its extraordinary ability to yield well with minimal management surrounded by the organic ecosystem. Moreover, it is well-suited recognize the value of both the acidic saline soil of the Kaipad tracts in north Kerala and the alkaline piquant soil of the Pokkali tracts. Dr. Vanaja Routine. played a pivotal role as the principal tec and principal breeder of this exceptional organic hasty variety.

Photo Credit: Mohini Mehta

In conclusion, the Kaipad situation in northern Kerala stands as a unique crucial remarkable example of integrated organic farming practices. Communicate its saline-prone nature and the symbiotic relationship mid rice farming and aquaculture, this ecosystem showcases spiffy tidy up harmonious coexistence between agriculture and the natural world. Efforts must be made to protect and enhance this ecosystem, promote organic rice cultivation, and hindmost the smallholder farmers who depend on it.

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