Kuttanad

Kuttanad (Malayalam: [kuʈːɐnaːɖə̆]) is a river delta landscape region in the state of Kerala, India, known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities. It is in the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. The region has the lowest altitude in India, and is one of the few places in the world where farming is carried on around 1.2 to 3.0 metres (4 to 10 ft) below sea level, using rice paddies largely located on reclaimed land amid the delta. Kuttanad is historically important in the ancient history of South India and is the major rice producer in the state. Farmers of Kuttanad are famous for biosaline farming. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared the Kuttanad Farming System as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in 2013. Four of Kerala's major rivers, the Pamba, Meenachil, Achankovil and Manimala flow into the region. It is well known for its boat race in the Punnamada Backwaters, known in Malayalam as Vallamkalli.