Kerala - Kollam   

`Ensure technological benefits to farm sector'

Staff Reporter

Seven projects launched at buffalo farm

KOLLAM: Labour Minister Babu Divakaran has called upon all concerned to ensure that the progress registered by science and technology be extended to the farming sector too.

He was inaugurating a function organised to mark the launching of seven projects at Kuriyottumala Buffalo Breeding Farm (BBF), near Punalur, on Tuesday.

The need of the hour is to ensure that the farming sector also maintains the pace of progress in the science and technology sector.

Many are seen to have given up farming in Kerala after labelling it as a venture that does not bring in much income. These are farms which have not in any way stood to benefit from the progress registered by science and technology. Hence, the vital aspect behind increasing income from farms is to utilise scientific and technological advancements for the purpose. The concept of composite farming should be encouraged, he said.

The Minister also wanted Government farms to be made self-ruled institutions instead of waiting for the green signal for anything and everything.

While more than one crore people in the State make a living by working as daily wage labourers, more than half of them are those working in the traditional sector. If a similar amount being spent for the Smart City Project is invested in the traditional sector, it will generate employment for more than five lakh persons. Compared to that, the Smart City is estimated to provide employment to only 35,000 persons, the Minister said.

On the occasion, the Minister also inaugurated the new office building of the BBF. The other projects launched were a Kudumbasree Training Centre, a booklet on goat rearing, a retail centre for BBF products in Punalur town, a piggery unit, a quail rearing unit, a poultry farm and a slurry pumping unit.

The BBF, under the management of the Kollam District Panchayat, was under threat of closure two years ago following losses. However, efforts taken jointly by the district panchayat and the Animal Husbandry Department resulted in successfully reviving the BBF into a profit-making unit.

The function was presided over by district panchayat president Aisha Potti. BBF Superintendent V. Sunil Kumar, read the report. Kudumbasree Mission executive director T.K. Jose, Punalur Municipal Council chairperson Radhamani Vijayanand and district panchayat vice-chairman R. Ramachandran spoke. Development Standing Committee chairman George Mathew welcomed the gathering and district panchayat secretary G.S. Shylamani proposed the vote of thanks.

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