The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Achuthanandan for joint effort on food front

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Thursday, Apr 24, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Achuthanandan for joint effort on food front

Special Correspondent

‘Project to ensure food security will be taken up after talks’

Denies that CPI had raised objection

Project to be finalised before next LDF State committee meet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said that the project to ensure food security of the State is to be undertaken jointly by various departments.

Talking to presspersons after the weekly Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said no concern was warranted over the implementation of the project to increase food production. It would be taken up after detailed discussion.

Denying reports that the Communist Party of India (CPI) had objected to the implementation of the project jointly by various departments, the Chief Minister said these were the result of incomplete information received by mediamen. The Cabinet would decide on the project before the next meeting of the Left Democratic Front State committee.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the project required the involvement of not just the Agriculture or Animal Husbandry departments. Paddy production was to be increased not only in Kuttanad, Thrissur and Palakkad but also in the remaining paddy fields from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. So, the Water Resources Department would have to be involved in ensuring availability of water. The Local Self-Government Department was involved in planning and implementing several projects for paddy development.

Farmers needed to be freed from indebtedness and provided with interest-free loans for paddy cultivation.

The involvement of the Cooperation and Fisheries departments was called for in extending loans and making paddy cultivation profitable, he said.

He said the plan was to increase the production of paddy from six lakh tonnes a year to nine lakh tonnes a year. The production of egg, milk and vegetables was to be increased by providing farmers with kits and financial assistance.

The government wanted to act pro-actively to increase food production even while complaining to the Centre about in rice allocation to the State. Food security in Kerala and elsewhere in the country was at risk on account of the policies of the Central government.

It cut grain allocations to the public distribution system and allowed Food Corporation of India godowns to be used by private parties.

He said the Cabinet had only taken up routine matters on Wednesday for decision.

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