UNSEASONABLE RAINS DEVASTATE KERALA'S CROPS AND EXPOSE

UNCLAS CHENNAI 000113

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON IN
SUBJECT: UNSEASONABLE RAINS DEVASTATE KERALA'S CROPS AND EXPOSE
COMMUNIST ANACHRONISMS



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: An unseasonable spell of rain hit the South India
state of Kerala in mid-March as farmers were preparing to harvest
rice causing an estimated crop loss of USD 45 million. The unusual
downpours also caused political trouble for the state's ruling
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). The party's opponents
claim that local CPI(M)-led trade unions compounded the problem by
enforcing policies that prevented farmers from using machines to
harvest crops before they were destroyed. The rains exposed the
CPI(M)'s anachronistic attitudes and handed its opponents a golden
opportunity to score some political points. END SUMMARY

FARMERS LOSE HARVEST-READY CROPS . . .
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2. (U) Unseasonably heavy March rains lashed Kerala causing major
crop losses and 14 deaths. According to media reports, farmers lost
crops worth USD 45 million. Rice accounted for 60 percent of the
losses; the rest were predominantly coffee and black pepper.
Political leaders from across the spectrum appealed to New Delhi for
disaster assistance. The central government will send a team to
assess damages in Kerala and is expected to recommend a relief
package, according to press reports. The state government announced
its own assistance package and will begin disbursement later this
week.

... WHILE THE CPI(M) LOSES FACE
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3. (SBU) Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy (Congress) and allied party
leaders charged that the losses would have been much smaller had the
CPI(M)-led Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali (Agricultural Workers)
Union allowed farmers to use mechanical harvesters. Chandy
explained that the union's muscle power allows it to act as de facto
parallel government: the union requires farmers obtain permission
and pay the union a fee if they want to harvest crops with
machines.. Chandy pointed out that, faced with shortage of manual
labor, several farmers in the rice district of Kuttanad appealed in
vain to the local unions for permission to use harvesting machines
days before the rains hit the crops. Chandy and allied party
leaders staged a symbolic protest, riding to farms on a harvesting
machine. Kerala media, including a left-of-center newspaper,
highlighted the plight of farmers at the hands of the leftist
unions, embarrassing the government.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: The CPI(M)'s opposition to the mechanization of
farm operations was popular in the 1960s when cheap manual labor was
plenty. Since then Kerala has experienced large scale migration to
the Gulf countries and Indian metros. Despite these demographic
shifts, the CPI(M) remains mired in the past with labor unions
dictating policies that hamper the agricultural sector. Sadly, the
combination of unseasonable rains and the state's anachronistic
labor relations have ruined this season's crop for many Kerala
farms. END COMMENT.

HOPPER