Muttukadu in Idukki is a typical settlement area where cardamom, pepper, coffee and vegetables are widely cultivated. It is known for the prevalence of dolmen, an evidence of human settlement from time immemorial.
But the farmers here have almost abandoned farming now after an army of giant African snails destroyed the crops in a wide area. Since then, the nearby Chinnakanal, Bison Valley and Rajakumari grama panchayats have also been facing the threat of the snails.
Farmers say the giant African snails were first spotted in the area nearly five years go. ‘‘It has now multiplied to a level that farmers were left with no option but to abandon farming. For the past two years, there has been an explosion in its growth and we have fully abandoned vegetable cultivation,’‘ said Babu K.P., a farmer.
