The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Cut in rice quota flayed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 01, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Cut in rice quota flayed

Special Correspondent

Minister launches rabbit-farming scheme of the Corporation

Photo: C.Ratheesh kumar

New initiative: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom handing over a rabbit to a woman entrepreneur to inaugurate a rabbit-farming scheme launched by the city Corporation on Thursday. -

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Housing and Forests Benoy Viswom said here on Thursday that the Central government decision to cut the quota of rice for Kerala was politically motivated and unjustifiable.

Speaking after inaugurating ‘Muyalukalude Lokam’, a rabbit-farming scheme launched by the city Corporation, he said the move smacked of discrimination against the State. “The decision to deprive Kerala of its staple food goes against national interests and will affect our food security in the long run. It is clear that it was influenced by narrow political compulsions.”

Alleges discrimination

Mr.Viswom reminded the Centre that it was adopting a discriminatory attitude against a State that contributed a major share of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

“We will do everything possible to ensure food security. The government has initiated moves to step up agricultural production and vegetable farming,” he added.

Presiding over the meeting, Mayor C.Jayan Babu said the Corporation had drawn up an action plan to enter the production sector in a big way. He said agriculture and animal husbandry had been identified as thrust areas for the drive to improve production. The Mayor called for utilising the technical expertise of agriculture scientists and researchers to improve the production sector.

Kudumbasree role

Mr.Jayan Babu said the rabbit-rearing scheme would help Kudumbasree workers to gain additional income.

Presenting a report on the scheme, Corporation Secretary Johnson K.George said it was designed to provide women entrepreneurs with a steady source of income. He said the fast breeding cycle of rabbits and the demand for rabbit meat would prove advantageous for the beneficiaries.

Deputy Mayor V.Jayaprakash, chairmen of standing committees, councillors and senior officials were present on the occasion.

The women selected for the scheme would be trained by the Animal Husbandry Department.

The Corporation would supply them with rabbits and cages. The seed stock comprises broiler species like Soviet Phinchila and White Giant which attain up to 3 kg at full growth. The rabbits and kits have been procured from the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) research centre at Kodaikanal.

The Corporation has tied up with the Kerala Feeds for animal feed and the Poultry Development Corporation to ensure procurement of meat.

As many as 525 rabbit rearing units will be established in the city under the scheme.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section