‘Kerala is Promoting Carbon-Neutral Agriculture,’ says Agriculture Minister

Agriculture Minister P. Prasad said on Tuesday that Kerala was one of the first states to promote carbon-neutral agriculture. Over the last ten years, he said, organic farming practices had been implemented at the State Seed Farm in Aluva.

The Minister was speaking at a consultative meeting at the Ernakulam Town Hall to launch the 'Njangalum Krishiyilekku' (We are also taking up agriculture) campaign across the State in order to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetable production. The campaign will promote the cultivation of vegetables and other crops. The meeting was attended by officials from the departments of Agriculture and Soil Conservation from Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Alappuzha.

Prasad went on to say that the campaign's main goal was to increase local vegetable production in order to promote healthy eating habits, health conservation, and the prevention of lifestyle diseases.

Farmers, he said, should be regarded as gods, and farmers who approached Krishi Bhavans (agricultural offices) should not be turned away. He added that the offices should look into ways to assist farmers and help them live with dignity.

The campaign's goal is to get everyone involved in agriculture by identifying fallow land and encouraging all families to practice organic farming. The campaign will not be limited to the Agriculture Department but will include all other departments as well.

Other goals of the project included providing quick services, forming farmer groups, expanding cultivated areas, and finding effective marketing methods for farm produce, according to communication here.

Product marketing will include the use of online spaces. It is expected that such efforts will result in the creation of approximately one lakh job opportunities.

According to the communication, Krishi Bhavans will be ranked based on their performance, and the best of them will be recognized for their achievements. Among those who spoke were Agricultural Production Commissioner Ishita Roy, Director of Agriculture T.V. Subhash, and Additional Secretary Sabeer Hussain.