Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan has called for a farmer-friendly, need-based research approach by farm research institutes.
Speaking after inaugurating the two-day State workshop organised by the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) for the revision of Package of Practice recommendations (PoP) on Friday, the Minister stressed the need for close coordination among farm scientists, extension workers and farmers at all the levels. He appreciated the move to formulate a separate package for organic farming. “KAU’s research contributions are significant and laudable. We can be proud about the fact that agricultural growth rate of the State has improved. Since we are striving to make the State fully organic in 2016, spreading awareness on scientific organic farming practices is imperative and the package on it would be of great help. I also request the researchers to develop packages for the cultivation of all vegetable varieties so that self-sufficiency in vegetable production can be attained,” the Minister said. He also dedicated the new crop varieties developed by the KAU to the farming community by handing over them to farmers’ representatives.
P. Rajendran, KAU Vice Chancellor, in his presidential address, said the PoP workshop on Environment Day was a befitting coincidence. “Farming is essentially a productive exercise for conservation and enhancement of nature. This is where soil-friendly farming, soil enriching technologies and bio agents become relevant,” the Vice Chancellor said. The workshop began with a detailed presentation on new crop varieties. The three technical sessions on the first day of the workshop were devoted to rice and rice-based cropping systems, plantation crops, spices, medicinal plants and tree crops and vegetables, pulses and tubers.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Minister earlier inaugurated Environment Day celebrations at KAU by planting a sapling on the campus and opened the new innovation square at College of Cooperation, Banking and Management.