THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is a significant drop in paddy production in Kerala. With over 90 per cent storage complete, paddy producrtion is less than 2 lakh metric tonnes compared to last year.

A total of 7,31,185 MT of paddy was collected in 2022-23. Now it has come down to 5,30,197 MT. In 2022–23, 2,50,373 farmers were engaged in agriculture. This year it has come down to 1,86,946.

Apart from the increase in fertilizer and labour costs, climate change is also dissuading farmers from paddy cultivation. In Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad regions less than 1000 hectares are under harvest. There was a production of 25 to 30 quintals of paddy per acre, and it has now reduced to 15 quintals. Cost of production can be recovered only if at least 20 quintals of paddy are obtained per acre.

A large number of farmers in Kuttanad cultivate paddy by leasing the fields. The rent is above Rs 20,000 per acre. They are the ones who are in more trouble.