News & Pics From Vinay Pais
For Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (CN)

Udupi, Jun 25: There is some good news at a time when inflation has dampened the spirits of the common man. Despite the monsoon being late this year, agricultural operations in the undivided South Kanara district remain unaffected.

Unlike other districts of the state, our farmers have had adequate supply of chemical manure. Moderate rain at the beginning of the season had facilitated the initial operations, which promise a good yield later.

A traveler along the Konkan Railway route would certainly get some eye candy in the form of lush green paddy fields that abound in our coastal district. Authorities report that seedling operation in 150 hectares of South Kanara district and 600 hectares in Udupi district was nearly over within two weeks from the break of the monsoon season.

In Kundapura alone nearly 60 percent of the process is said to be over but the sad part is that since 1990, the annual seedling operation has been steadily declining at the rate of 150 hectares annually. The reason is the landowners’ preference for coconut plantations instead of paddy fields which are no longer seen as a profitable venture.

Also urbanization is on the rise and this encourages migration of labor. The one silver lining to the cloud is that the district of Udupi is not seeing as rapid a decline in the number of paddy fields as the divided South Kanara district is.