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A high-level discussion on the Kuttanad Package, attended by agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan, on Friday decided that Kuttanad should be declared as a global agriculture heritage zone.

The purpose will be the promotion of sustainable agriculture by protecting the environment.

Food and Agriculture Organization recognizes globally important agriculture systems and proposals would be put up for that said Dr. Swaminathan to the media. Farming was being practiced about four meters below the sea level in Kuttanad for about 150 years. The declaration of the area as a heritage zone would be a recognition to the stupendous achievements of farmers of Kuttanad.

Announcing the decisions of the conference, Finance Minister K.M. Mani said earthen bunds were most suitable for Kerala. However, there would be no rigid approach in the matter. Where the bunds were vulnerable to waves or heavy flow, pile and slab system or masonry could be tried. The polder committees would be allowed to take suitable decisions in this regard, he said.

The Minister added that they have decided that a senior government officer should be appointed as chief executive officer to implement the package. The next meeting of the Cabinet would take the needed decisions. An amount of Rs.700 crore had already been sanctioned for irrigation works under the package. The work needed to be carried out quickly and in a apparent manner.

Mr. Mani said the work on the Changanassery-Alappuzha canal would be expedited and completed in two phases. There were no decisions yet on renovation of the Thanneermukhom bund and the earthen portion of the bund in the middle of the barrage. Several studies had already been undertaken and the matter needed to be probed further.

Minister for Water Resources P.J. Joseph, Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan, and Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar were among those who attended the conference.