Kerala   

Minister firm on paddy revival plan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran on Tuesday declined to be drawn into the controversy over the integrated food security programme, noting that the LDF State Committee would decide the matter.

Replying to questions at a press conference, the Minister said that the State committee was slated to meet on May 21 and 22.

Mr. Ratnakaran said that a plan for revival of paddy cultivation in 10,000 hectares this year would in any case be implemented fully.

He announced that the State Horticulture Mission would be organising a national honey fest and a mango fest this month.

The National Apicultural Congress and Expo from May 8 to 10 would showcase various kinds of honey, equipment for apiary and value added products.

A conference was being organised in this connection to highlight newer technologies for transfer to the farmers. Diversification of products and maintenance of quality for exports would also be among the themes of the conference.

The mango fest, to be held from May 11 to 13, would showcase varieties of mangoes from different parts of the country. A seminar would focus on mango species, scientific cultivation, marketing possibilities and scope for diversification.

Experts from agriculture universities in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would participate.

He said that a lakh mango saplings would be distributed to farmers this year as the first phase of a programme to promote mango cultivation.

The Minister said that a year-long special agriculture development programme would be announced on May 27 as the Agriculture Department was completing 100 years.

The department, formed on May 27, 1908, in the erstwhile Travancore State, had passed through good and bad times. Steps would be taken to improve its functioning from the lower levels, learning from past failures and successes.

A meeting of the former officials of the department and agriculture experts would be held to chart out fresh initiatives.

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