In the city of Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala, Minister for Agriculture V. S Sunil Kumar yesterday, 13 July, launched a comprehensive programme to increase production of pesticide-free vegetables. The programme involves various government departments, institutions and school children.
The Minister inaugurated the programme by handing over kits containing saplings of varied vegetables to students of St Mary’s Higher Secondary School. The Agriculture Department plans to provide 5 million kits to schoolchildren across the State before Onam. The department will also provide grow bags to children and public at an affordable price.
In his inaugural address, the Minister said the government had decided to double the prize money for students and educational institutions adopting the best agriculture practices to increase the yield.
School syllabus
To kindle farming interest in children, the State government had decided to introduce agriculture as part of the school syllabus from the next academic year, he added.
“Taking the present generation back to farming is the only solution for environmental degradation, addressing drought and growing health issues. Increasing farm productivity is the only viable answer to the three pressing problems people confront,” he said.
The State cannot progress until it tackles depletion in farm sector. “Food security can only assure the overall development of people and the society at large. The State government will take all steps to increase agriculture productivity,” he said
Source: thehindu.com
