Kuttanad- The Garden Land of Kerala

Kuttanad, the deltaic formation of four major river systems, Pampa, Achencoil, Manimala and Meenachil, confluencing into the Vembanad Lake lies 0.6 to 2.2 m below mean sea level. The region extends from 9° 17′ to 9° 40′ N latitude and 76° 19′ to 76° 33′E longitude, comprising an area of 1100 sq. km. The region encompasses vast stretches of backwaters, bordering mangrove formations, and rice fields, the latter mostly reclaimed from the shallow stretches of the lake during them recent past. The garden lands, or the reclaimed purayidams or homesteads with coconut groves, fringed by canals and channels make this a land of richness and beauty.

Historical Background

In the geological past, the Kuttanad region was a part of the shallow coastal area of the Arabian Sea. As a result of a geological uplift, a shallow bay was formed into which several rivers discharged. The silt deposited at river mouths gave rise to the present delta and the shallow bay formed into a lake-lagoonbackwater system opening on to the Arabian Sea through the Kochi barmouth. According to another theory, the entire sea was a dense forest, the legendary Khandava vana which caught fire and got engulfed by the sea during the succeeding geological ages. Years later, the sea receded, exposing the land which forms a part of the midland and coastal region of Kerala. This land was known as “Chuttanadu” meaning burned land and hence the name Kuttanad. The entire area has a semblance of dense forest, rich in organic residues and burnt wooden logs locally called as kari. With reference to elevation, geological formation and soil characteristics, Kuttanad deltaic formation is locally classified as karappadam, kayal and kari lands.

Rice Cultivation in Kuttanad

Rice is cultivated in an area of 55000 ha, identified as punja lands of Kuttanad, constituting several padasekharams or contiguous fields known as polders, separated by channels and bunds. It accounts for 20 per cent of Kerala’s rice production and contributes decisively to the food security in a state where domestic production meets only 30 per cent of the food grain requirement.

Emerging tourism

Since tourism has been identified as a major foreign exchange earner to the decelerating economy of the state, there has been an attempt to project the tourist potential of Vembanad backwaters. The entire Vembanad lake with its small islands adjoining lagoons, backwaters and reclaimed rice fields has immense tourist potential. The reclaimed wetlands are under the threat of further reclamation not only for high valued crops and construction, but also for real estate. The measures taken up by the Government for promoting tourism in Kerala, ‘God’s own country’ , and popularisation of the concept of ecotourism or green tourism taking the clues from the west have added a new dimension to land use in Kuttanad.