the initial stage were largely confined to the scattered plots of shallow lands by the side of the Vembanad lake. Only about 250 hectares of land were reclaimed during this period. The second phase of reclamation commenced in 1888 with the government decision to provide direct loans to riots for reclaiming and bringing under cultivation the portions of Vembanad backwaters along
the shore within Ambalapuzha, Changanacherry,
Kottayam, Ettumanur, Vaikkom and Cherthala taluks.
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It encouraged large number of wealthy and influential farmers from different parts of Central Travancore to make huge investments in reclamation. This phase of reclamation lasted till the end of 1903 when the government considering the safety of the Cochin port interdicted
further reclamation from the Vembanad lake. Meanwhile about 2000 hectares of the bed of the lake had already been reclaimed. Kayal lands like
Venad, Attumuttathu kayal, Raja Ramapuram and
Mathi kayal were reclaimed during this period. The third phase of reclamation of kayal lands began with the repealing of ban on reclamation in 1912. By that time mechanized pump sets fuelled by kerosene and diesel had become popular in Kuttanad replacing the manually operated wooden wheels
(chakrams) traditionally used for dewatering. It made the draining of vast
padasekharams easier, quicker and economical. During the period of the first world war (1914-1918) the state experienced severe food shortage that resulted in a manifold increase in the price of paddy. The abrupt steep hike in paddy price triggered off a mad rush for further reclamation of kayal lands. However, the postwar years witnessed a sharp fall in the price of rice.
During the period 1924-25 to 1931-32, the price of paddy per standard
para declined from 26
chakrams to 12
chakrams (Re. = 28 chakrams) in Kuttanad. Showing an overall decrease of more than 50 percent As the cultivation of paddy became uneconomical, farmers in kayal lands who had invested substantial amounts of capital for reclamation either abstained from its cultivation or reduced crop intensity by keeping
their lands fallow for one, two or more years. Since the early years of s price of paddy began to increase and reclamation efforts also picked up momentum since 1931. During the second world war food imports to India were disrupted. As the domestic food production was quite insufficient to meet its requirements, a famine like
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GO K (1971) :
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