MS Swaminthan’s ‘Kuttanad package’ still remains an unfulfilled dream

For MS Swaminathan, who leaves behind a legacy in Indian agriculture, Kuttanad has always been close to his heart. Having spent his childhood days at his ancestral home in Alappuzha’s Mankombu, this eminent agricultural scientist has always been in the forefront of the region’s developmental activities. His contribution to the ‘Rice bowl’ of Kerala was the ‘Kuttanad Package’, a wetland development project that aimed to mitigate the agrarian distress in the regional ecosystem. 

“Kuttanad is the heaven on earth. It will become the world’s best tourist spot one day, if fishing, farming and water tourism are brought together,” opined Swaminathan, while accepting an honorary doctorate from the Indira Gandhi National University. He had prepared the Kuttanad package after travelling through every nook and corner of the region. Nevertheless, Kerala ignored his suggestions and political struggles between changing governments prevented the project from becoming a reality. 

In 2008, a committee chaired by Swaminathan submitted its report on Kuttanad Package before the union government. The report was approved the next year. In 2010, then Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan inaugurated the package in Kuttanad too.

The Centre had entrusted the Swaminathan Foundation in Chennai to conduct a scientific study of the region and the foundation had recommended 15 tasks with a total cost of Rs 1840 crore for the project. Although the package was extended till 2016, only Rs 750 crore was spent for its implementation.

That is, despite extensive studies and surveys, lack of effective coordination among the 12 departments that were assigned to implement the project, Kuttanad package still continues to remain an unfulfilled promise.