Agricultural Minister K.P. Mohanan has said that facilities for procuring agricultural produces will be arranged in 100 Krishi Bhavans in the State.
Inaugurating a development seminar of the district panchayat here on Saturday, Mr. Mohanan said the new facilities being arranged in Krishi Bhavans would be an answer to the existing problem of lack of a mechanism for procurement, processing, and marketing of agricultural produces. The project for starting the facilities being implemented was expected to enhance agricultural production, he said.
He said the State government’s plan was to make Kerala a total organic farming State by 2016. The objective was not only to increase agricultural production but also to ensure a society of healthy people. An estimated 50,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in the State every year, he said adding that contamination of food items was seen as the main cause of this.
The Minister said the scheme for distributing vegetable seeds among students was a success as 54 lakh students were covered under it. Steps were also taken to install biogas plant in 3,725 schools. The Minister was greeted by presenting him a bouquet of Amaranthus grown on the terrace of the district panchayat hall. District panchayat president K.A. Sarala presided.