By Anoopa Mathews | Project Assistant
Across Kerala’s once-vibrant paddy landscapes, a silent crisis is unfolding. The rhythmic beauty of rice fields swaying in the breeze is fading. Unprecedented rains, intensified by climate change, have devastated traditional farming systems. Flooded fields, failed harvests, and mounting uncertainty have forced countless small-scale farmers to abandon their livelihoods.
At the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES), we refused to stand by.
We launched the “Adopt a River” program—an initiative that reconnects river restoration with climate-resilient paddy cultivation. This innovative model revives traditional water systems, regenerates riverbanks, enhances soil health, and restores ecological balance in rice-growing landscapes.
And it’s working.
In just one year, we successfully implemented the climate resilient paddy farming practice across four districts—Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Thrissur. Rivers once clogged with silt now flow cleaner. Farmers who had lost hope have returned to their fields. Together, we are proving that nature-based solutions can restore livelihoods.
The Climate Adaptive Paddy Farming Protocol, grounded in field research and farmer experience. Key interventions included:
• Soil-based fertilizer management
• Seed drum sowing techniques
• Biocontrol agents for pest management
• Micronutrient support for crop health
This protocol was rolled out during the 2024–25 Puncha season in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Palakkad, and Thrissur. Harvesting ended in April 2025, and detailed impact assessments are now underway.
But this is only the beginning.
We’re ready to expand to more districts, support more farmers, and restore more river stretches. We invite you to be part of this movement.
Your Donation Can:
• Revive a dying river stretch
• Help a farmer reclaim their paddy field
• Promote climate-smart water and soil practices
• Train local youth and women in sustainable farming
Adopt a River. Sustain a Life.
This is more than a donation. It’s a commitment to climate action, ecological restoration, and rural resilience. Stand with TIES in shaping a greener, more hopeful future for Kerala’s river valleys and farming communities.
Donate Now. Let the rivers flow—and let life grow.
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