Overview
Rice Research Station, Moncompu is the lead centre for rice research for Kuttanad. Kuttanad is a unique system where rice is grown up to 3 m below sea level and spread across the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. The main crop season is Puncha sown in October- November and harvested in February-March. An additional crop is taken during Kharif in around 1/3rd of the area which is sown as dry broadcast or wet sown just prior to the onset of monsoon. Kuttanad agro-ecosystem being low-lying estuarine lands, are subjected to flash floods during the two monsoons and salinity intrusion during post monsoon periods. Soil problems including acidity, iron toxicity, hydrogen sulphide injury are the other major abiotic stresses limiting rice production in the region. It is a hot spot of weeds, insect and diseases. Many insects, diseases and weeds which were earlier considered as minor are becoming major in recent years. The Rice Research Station is reviewing and addressing these issues periodically and aims at developing new rice varieties suitable for Kuttanad.
