About Village
Ezhome is a village in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. Ezhome, is a quiet village, otherwise known as granary of erstwhile Chirakkal Kovilakam, cuddling in the midst of luxurious green foliage on the shore of calm, pristine and yet swinging Kuppam River. It is stretched out between Taliparamba and Pazhayangadi towns in Kannur District, and about two hours drive from the town of Kannur. The original name of this beautiful hamlet is said to be Ezhilakam, which, in course of time either got diluted or corrupted to form the present name Ezhome.
Demography
At the 2001 Census of India, Ezhome had a population of 18,479 with 8,710 males and 9,769 females
Geography
Pazhayangadi is the nearest railway station (2 km). The nearest airports are Kannur International Airport (CNN) which is 45 km south of Ezhome and Mangalore International Airport (IXE) which is 120 km north of Ezhome.
Socio-Economic
The people of this Village are maintain high socio-cultural standards and live in harmony with different ethnic and caste cultures. Most of the families are the custodians of the agrarian culture and the descendants of the freedom fighters.Political representatives, teachers, civil servants, artists and expatriates, including those who wander in the upper echelons of society, lead an equally social life here.
Ecology
Ezhome Rice varieties ‘Ezhome-1’ and ‘Ezhome-2’ are the first high yielding, non-lodging red rice varieties. They are designed for the saline-prone Kaipad rice fields of Kerala. They yield awn-less, non-shattering grains, and favourable cooking qualities, better than local cultivars. The average yields of ‘Ezhome-1’ and ‘Ezhome-2’ are 3.5 tones/ha and 3.2 tones/ha respectively under close-planted and no-management conditions of Kaipad. This yield is 70% and 60% more than that of local cultivars. These varieties differ in duration, have distinct morphological and qualitative traits, and have different salinity tolerance mechanisms, imparting varietal diversity to the unique ecosystem of Kaipad. These new seed varieties have been developed by the Kerala Agricultural University with the participation of farmers of Ezhome panchayat. This is the first venture of Kerala Agricultural University in development of a variety i) adopting the combined strategy of Global Breeding (traditional), and Participatory Plant Breeding, and ii) carrying out all stages of variety development directly in the problem area of farmers.
Tourism
Ezhome has produced exceptionally effervescent political activists, social workers, spiritual leaders, mystics, physicians, musicians, artists, artisans, teachers, engineers, judges, and world class academicians, one of whom found place as far as in Tokyo to embellish the chair of Vice Rector of United National University. Legendary technocrat late KPP Nambiar’s paternal home is at Ezhome. Late Kallen Pokkudan is another prodigy of this village, a renowned ecologist, who devoted a major part of his life in the care and preservation of mangroves along the banks of this river. He has authored many books on Mangroves and has also been honoured with a film ‘Sthalam’ (The Place) portraying his life. There are four varieties of high yielding, non-lodging organic rice named after this pretty village, styled and patented as Ezhome 1, 2, 3 and 4 cultivated in the saline prone polder lands protected by dykes. In local parlance dykes called as Kaippad, and is developed by Kerala Agricultural University with the active participation of farmers of this village. In the scheme of State sponsored Malabar Cruise Tourism Project, Ezhome finds a prominent place. Ezhome has a rich heritage historically, politically and culturally. This gorgeous village once played as a bellwether in the advent of land reforms, which revolutionised the State. Peasants of this village were the first amongst those who dared to voice against the barbarous and brutal feudal system prevalent then. Ezhome is vibrant culturally too. There are several celebrated performing artists in this milieu. Theyyam festivals are intrinsic to this village, which is as old as its history, performed in temples and select homes. The usual Theyyam season begins from October and lasts upto May. Tourists visiting Ezhome during these months will have an added advantage of watching this cultural extravaganza. Theyyams in local terminology are gods in human form or speaking gods, who listen to devotees, hear their woes and in turn bless them.