The students of Holy Angels’ Convent School here would bet that nothing can beat a home-cooked meal made from the best vegetables from their school’s vegetable garden.
The students who have already tasted success with vegetable cultivation at their school are gearing up to play their part in making the State self-sufficient in vegetables.
They will join students from 2,400 schools across the State to promote farming in urban areas as part of the Integrated Vegetable Cultivation Drive launched by the Agriculture Department.
At the State-level launch of the drive, inaugurated at the school by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday, seed packets were distributed to the students.
“We have an active eco club and a nature club in our school. If there could be a vegetable garden at school, there could be one at home too,” said Gayathri Mohan, a Class X student of the school.
As part of the scheme, 20 lakh vegetable seed packets, each costing Rs.15, will be distributed to the students to take up vegetable cultivation at home.
It is expected that the successful implementation of the project in at least 6,000 hectares in schools and households of students would result in the production of approximately 72,000 tonnes of vegetables.
The project will be implemented through agriculture clubs in schools, for which Rs.84 lakh has been earmarked.
The Department will provide Rs.3,500 to schools to form agriculture clubs. The students will be also provided with booklets on organic farming.
The project will be implemented under the guidance of farmers and teachers.
Agriculture Department plans to extend cultivation to the premises of government institutions and corporations as well and to produce 1,72,368 tonnes of vegetables altogether. The department has earmarked Rs.42.5 crore for the project.
