Kuttanad is the only region in India where farming is practiced below sea level. Located on the backwaters, it has several waterways which are integral to farming. Key crops are paddy, bananas, yam, and coconut cultivated on reclaimed lands. Practice of "Puncha" cultivation where land is reclaimed from backwaters for farming. As it lies below sea level, irrigation relies on monsoon rains and pumping of water. Farmers use various techniques like bunds, dykes to prevent flooding of fields. It is an ingenious method of cultivation that makes optimal use of the wetland ecosystem.
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