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Mony K. Mathew

Thiruvananthapuram , Dec. 21

SOME of the innovative schemes related to agriculture that were launched in Kerala in the Ninth Plan as part of the decentralised planning programme have lost momentum after the initial euphoria.

This was either due to the lack of leadership or the lukewarm participation of the people at the panchayat level, according to an evaluation of the schemes done of the State Planning Board.

The Evaluation Division of the board, comprising Dr S. Venkiteswaran and Dr. Reji. D. Nair had zeroed in on three schemes, namely, "labour bank," "vegetable cultivation programme," and "pest control army," for a limited sample study to ascertain their present status. And it has been found that much more had to have been done to ensure the sustainability of the schemes in the long run.

The "labour bank" of the Kunnathukal panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district was conceptualised with the objectives of taking care of the timely supply of labour to the needs of the farm sector and providing employment assurance of at least 200 days per annum to the labourers. It was also to act as a nodal agency for development activities at the panchayat level.

To begin with, the permanent membership of the bank went up from 125 in 1998 to 224 in 2002. Besides, 243 temporary members were enrolled in 1999-2000 and it was hoped then that employment could be assured to all the members. But, contrary to expectations, the bank could not provide employment to all the members and consequently their number came down by half within a couple of years.

However, as a nodal agency for the implementation of the development schemes of the panchayat, the bank was able to reduce the expenditure of 15 panchayat schemes by 16 per cent of the estimated costs.

The hurdles that came in the way of the bank have been identified as financial stringency, neglect of the profit component in implementing the schemes, and the threat of private contractors. As a result, the average number of days of employment generated per annum fell from 22,000 in 1998 to 13,970 in 2002.

It has been pointed out that the financial viability of the labour bank can be achieved through strengthening its operations with the active participation of the farmers, agriculture labourers and the panchayat functionaries. Also, institutions like the National Cooperative Development Corporation and Nabard could be approached for raising project-linked funds.

The "vegetable cultivation programme" of Kanjikkuzhy panchayat in Alappuzha district had been able to ensure the participation of almost all the families in the beginning. However, the level of participation showed declining trend since 1998-99.

The programme picked up again in 2001-02 with the panchayat earmarking Rs 6 lakh in its annual budget for the purpose. Yet, marketing remains one of the weakest links in the programme.

The block-centred marketing cell could not cater to the needs of all the farmers in the panchayat with transportation bottlenecks further worsening the situation. Another problem is low prices due to dumping of vegetables in the local market.

The "pest control army" of Nellaya panchayat in Palakkad district was launched with the major objective of creating public awareness on pest control measures in paddy cultivation with the thrust on bio-control measures as also scientific application of fertilisers through soil testing.

The "army" was quite active in the initial years, but the participation of the farmers in the scheme fell in later years and it has become almost extinct now.

This has resulted in pests still persisting in the fields with the same intensity, and despite the emphasis on organic farming, there has been no reduction in the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

The Planning Board has suggested that the scheme could be revived by distribution of seeds and fertilisers by Krishi Bhavan, extension of the activities of the "army" to other crops and modification of training modules through the involvement of innovative farmers and field practitioners.

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