More and more schools are implementing a comprehensive project launched by the Department of Agriculture to promote vegetable cultivation on school premises and the homes of students. The latest school to take up farming is Bharatiya Vidyabhavan Senior Secondary School, Kodunganoor.
K. Muraleedharan, MLA, inaugurated the ‘Munshi Harithotsavam’ project by planting saplings on the school premises on Wednesday.
Speaking at the function, Mr. Muraleedharan pointed out how Kerala depended on neighbouring States such as Tamil Nadu to meet its food demands.
A lion’s share of the vegetable requirement in the State was met by supply from the neighbouring States.
It was high time that the people learned to cultivate vegetables in their own soil for day-to-day consumption to lead a healthy and self-sufficient life, Mr. Muraleedharan said.
Kits distributed
As part of the scheme, with the twin objectives of self-sufficiency and self-sustenance, vegetable seed kits, comprising vegetables which could be grown with minimal care, were distributed to students for cultivation on the premises of their houses and schools.
G.S. Sheena, councillor of Kodunganoor, distributed seed packages to the students of the school.
The scheme also aims at imparting skill and enthusiasm of growing vegetables among school students.
Besides government, aided and unaided schools, the vegetable farming scheme is being implemented in selected CBSE schools and private educational institutions as well.
