Significance of Protection and Development of Kaipad Ecosystem
Climate Change is the greatest ecological, economic and social challenge of our times. Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) attributes increase in global average temperature to increased emission of green house gas concentrations. It is projected to have significant impacts on physical and biological systems all over the globe. Warming of the oceans and melting of ice is anticipated to bring about a continuous rise of sea level by 18 to 79 cm in this century. Inter-governmental panel also predicts that by the year 2070, the thermal expansion of oceans and melting of glaciers will raise the sea levels to 21 to 71 cm. This will have widespread effects on coastal zones especially in developing nations like India located near the equator. Kerala, a fragile and closed eco-system, with the third highest population density almost three times the Indian average will be the most vulnerable to sea level rise with far reaching effects. Evolving a region specific and locally specific adaptive measures is the need of the hour for conservation of agriculture, and other livelihood options.
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In the context that our fragile coastal human ecosystems is expected to face a new phenomenon referred to as climate refugees’ resulting from increased and frequent occurrence of extreme weather events viz., droughts, salinity incursion, desertification, mass flooding, sea level rise, hurricanes, cyclones etc, integrated institutional efforts under the control of government is imperative. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United nations, agricultural heritage system, below sea level farming developed and master minded by the adventurous farmers and local communities need special attention and recognition to categorize, promote, conserve and enhance the agricultural heritage, including below sea level rice farming, agro biodiversity, coastal fisheries and open water farming in the present context of climate change. Coastal wetlands of North Kerala which is popularly known as Kaipad has peculiar ecosystem with respect to soil fertility, biodiversity, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance systems. It is a saline prone and naturally organic rice production tract falling in Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod districts of Kerala state in 4100 hectors. The Kaipad system is critical to smallholder farmers in the highly populated coastal region of North Kerala where traditional methods of agriculture and fishery are prevalent. The Kaipad system of rice cultivation is an integrated organic farming system in which rice cultivation and aquaculture go together in coastal brackish water marshes which is rich in organic matter. As Kaipad tract is coastal to the river which merges into sea, there will be flood during monsoon and salinity during summer season. Kaipad ecosystem consists of marshes, swamps, ponds, and paddy fields which help in controlling sedimentation, flood and pollution. The tidal currents generated in the sea causes flow in of water to Kaipadfields through the river during high tide and flow out during the low tide. When water level rises in the river either due to monsoon or due to high tide, water flows in Kaipad fields. The river water is usually saline except during monsoon. Along with the river water, the Kaipad fields receive good deposit of highly fertile organic matter from forest wastes as well as marine wastes. This along with left over paddy stubbles in Kaipad, excretion of migratory birds, and remnants of aqua culture makes the Kaipad ecosystem highly fertile. Hence the rice produce from this particular ecosystem is purely organic.
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As the unique sea coastal ecosystem of Kaipad has immense role in mitigating climate change; conservation of traditional germ plasm of rice and traditional knowledge of farming; conservation of mangroves, aqua culture, various types of flora and fauna, beneficial fungi, and migratory birds; the protection and development of this ecosystem is the need of the era. Further, as the international focus of developing countries is development of small hold agriculture sector, development of Kaipad tract which is governed by small and marginal farmers has paramount importance. As land and water are diminishing resources because of urban expansion, we should make maximum utilization of the available agricultural lands. And if it is a land not useful for urbanization like coastal wetlands, it has great relevance.
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This Kaipad tract is at a neglected stage with respect to research and development. Similarly, even though it is a naturally organic tract, not much development works had been carried out to protect this ecosystem, to enhance the area of cultivation, and to market the organic rice. The Kaipad system is critical to smallholder farmers in the highly populated coastal region of North Kerala where traditional methods of agriculture and fishery prevalent. It is approximately estimated that total Kaipad area of 4100 ha , out of this, the major Kaipad cultivation is going on in Kannur district, that also below 10% of the total Kaipad area. The remaining areas are left fallow. In Kasaragode and Kozhikode district the real Kaipad cultivation is not properly done. It is estimated that one hectare of Kaipad field can provide jobs for over four thousand laborers every year. Yet the Kaipad field is drastically declining.
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In the present era of organic agriculture gaining societal, political and scientific recognition for its contribution to sustainable agriculture, and the state Kerala is at the preparatory stage of declaring as organic state in 2016, protection and development of naturally organic production system like Kaipad rice tract, has great relevance with respect to food security, nutritional security, water security, and enhancement of standard of living of small and marginal farmers and there by achieving ever green revolution.
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