THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kuttanad area will soon be declared as an International Agri- Heritage Zone as envisaged by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the United Nations, according to Finance Minister K M Mani.Speaking at a discussion meet on Dr M S Swaminathan’s Kuttanad Package report here on Friday, Mani said that the declaration would ensure ecological restoration and sustainable development of Kuttanad region. Dr Swaminathan also attended the meet. Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan and Water Resources Minister P J Joseph elaborated upon the details in the report. Mani said that a chief executive officer for implementation of Kuttanadu package would be appointed in the next Cabinet meet. The meet was also told that a consensus has been reached at to go for ecofriendly earthen outer bunds in the Kuttanad paddy fields. Only in places where earthern bunds are not feasible, stone wall bunds will be constructed. Out of the proposal to provide 300 paddy harvesting machines for Kuttanad, permission has been given to purchase 200 machines. On the Thaneermukkam bund, the report of the Chennai IIT will be assessed before arriving at a decision on repairs. Rs 700-cr worth of projects under the Irrigation Department have been approved as per the package.MLAs C F Thomas, Thomas Chandy, Thomas Issac, K Ajith and A A Arif, Chief Secretary K Prabhakaran, Agriculture Production Commissioner K Jayakumar and other officials attended.
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