Kozhikode: Strengthening the flow of canal water without an intimation has caused paddy crop destruction at Avala Pandi near Perambra. It destroyed 10 acres of cultivation at Madathur Thazhe.
Twenty farmers were ready to harvest here when unexpectedly excess water drowned all their plans.
"The irrigation department is responsible for this. They should have alerted us before increasing the amount of water released through the canal," said K.K. Kunjabdulla, a farmer.
The canal is passing through the middle of the paddy field, and water is pumped under the Kuttiyadi irrigation project. As the entire field has been filled with water, it was difficult to bring harvest machines to the spot. Some farmers have started pumping out excess water using pumps.
Avala Pandi was known as the rice-bowl of Kozhikode district where they cultivate paddy in more than 500 acres. Gradually, agriculture became a standstill due to various reasons.
It was in 2018 they resumed paddy cultivation in 200 acres under Cheruvannur gram panchayat using the expertise of Kerala Agricultural University.
