pump sets, training programmes to farmers in the use of pesticides etc, for the development of paddy farming 50 . Even though the state government had failed to implement most of the recommendations of the Kuttanad Enquiry Commission, it appointed another committee chaired by AK Nambiar into suggest proper measures for the overall development of Kuttanad region. In its report the Committee put forward 21 suggestions for the consideration of the government 51 . Important among them were the maintenance and strengthening of the leading channels of Thottappally Spillway, setting up of a permanent machinery for forecasting floodwater levels in various parts of the region, strict enforcement of the KL Rao Committee recommendations regarding the opening of the Thanneermukkom Regulators 52 , fixation of support price for paddy, periodic revision and timely distribution of crop