The 1,500 acres of fallow land is getting ready for cultivation of paddy in Udupi district. The Kedarottana Trust, led by Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat has proposed to grow paddy organically on 2,000 acres which remained fallow for over two decades. It will be part of the “Hadilu Bhoomi Krishi Andolana” taken up by the trust. Councillors from 35 wards of Udupi City Municipal Council and presidents of 19 gram panchayats under the constituency are members of the trust.

MLA Bhat said that while preparing the fallow land for cultivation, the trust has removed silt from “thodus” (rivulets) on the edges of such land to a length of about 300 km now. The MLA further informed that the project will be launched on June 5, on ‘World Environment Day’ at Kadekar panchayat. It is estimated that 24 lakh kg of paddy can be grown on 2,000 acres. Cultivation will also help in recharging groundwater. The entire project will cost about ₹5 crore. The cost of cultivation per acre has been estimated at ₹25,000. An acre can yield a quantity of paddy that will fetch ₹10,000. There will be a deficit of ₹15,000 per acre. Hence, those who like to bear the cost of cultivation through donations can contribute to the trust through its bank account. Such fields of cultivation where farming has been supported by donors will be named after them.