The government has directed the Kerala Agricultural University to study the menace caused by giant African snail in different parts of the State.
While replying to questions in the Assembly on Monday, Agriculture Minister Mullakara Retnakaran said that the university has been directed to study the damage caused to coconut palms by the snail in the State. A pilot project for developing organic farming will be launched in 20 blocks on October 2. Idukki and Wayanad have been chosen for intensive promotion of organic farming in the first phase. It has been proposed to popularise organic farming all over the State within the next 10 years, he said.
Regarding the continued use of Endosulfan in Muthalamada in Palakkad district, the Minister said that the banned pesticide is being smuggled in other names from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The State government does not reserve the powers to ban the entry of the pesticide in other names, he said.
