Wed Sep 10 10:47:32 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text followed by a news article draft:

**Summary:**

Kodikunnil Suresh, Member of Parliament for Mavelikara, has appealed to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for a special central package to support Kuttanad, Kerala. Kuttanad, recognized by the FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System, faces severe threats from floods, salinity, and climate change, impacting agriculture and livelihoods. Suresh argues that previous support packages were insufficient and a comprehensive new package is needed to ensure the region’s sustainable development, disaster resilience, and the preservation of its unique farming heritage. He invited Chouhan to visit Kuttanad for a firsthand assessment.

**News Article Draft:**

**Kuttanad ‘Rice Bowl’ Needs Urgent Aid, MP Urges Central Government**

**Alappuzha, September 10, 2025** – Amid growing concerns over the future of Kuttanad, Kerala, Member of Parliament Kodikunnil Suresh has penned a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting a special central package for the region. Kuttanad, renowned as the “Rice Bowl of Kerala” and recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the FAO, is battling increasing environmental challenges.

Suresh, representing Mavelikara, highlighted the precarious state of Kuttanad, emphasizing its unique status as the only area in India where large-scale below-sea-level farming takes place. He stressed the region’s vulnerability to frequent flooding, salinity intrusion, and the escalating effects of climate change, leading to displacement of farmers and a threat to traditional livelihoods like paddy cultivation, inland fisheries, and duck rearing.

“Despite its ecological, cultural, and economic importance, Kuttanad faces serious challenges…which have forced distress migration of farming communities,” Suresh stated in his letter. He argued that previous initiatives aimed at revitalizing the region, Kuttanad Packages I and II, have fallen short, with numerous projects stalled or inadequately funded.

The MP called for a comprehensive package addressing sustainable development, livelihood protection, disaster resilience, agriculture-based livelihood support, and the promotion of eco-tourism. To gain a firsthand understanding of the situation, Suresh extended an invitation to Minister Chouhan to visit Kuttanad. He assured that a detailed program, in coordination with local stakeholders and the Kerala state government, could be arranged for an on-ground assessment and detailed discussions.

“The conservation and development of Kuttanad will safeguard livelihoods for lakhs of people and serve as a living tribute to M.S. Swaminathan’s vision of sustainable and inclusive agriculture,” Suresh concluded. The plea underscores the urgent need for intervention to preserve Kuttanad’s unique agricultural heritage and the livelihoods of its farming communities.

Read More