THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Assembly on Monday passed demands for grants worth Rs 1008 crore for the departments of stationery, printing, Agriculture, and Animal husbandry.A sum of Rs. 138.93 crore was granted for the stationery, printing and Administrative services, Rs. 718. 96 crore for the Agriculture Department and Rs. 150.67 crore for the Animal Husbandry Department.The discussion on the demand for grants for these departments was dominated by the concern over lack of development in the agriculture sector and neglect of kole fields of Thrissur and Malappuram districts.Replying to the discussion, Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan said a total revamp of the Kerala Agriculture University was necessary. He was responding to the criticism by members of the lack of innovative research activities in the university toboost the agricultural sector.P A Madhavan of the Congress asked the Agriculture Minister to increase the subsidy for pumpsets for farmers of kole fields by at least 50 per cent. He pointed out that over 40,000 hectares of kole fields which had been noted for traditional cultivation were facing neglect for the last several years. He wanted the government to have a separate package on the model of Kuttanad package.M V Sreyams Kumar of the Socialist Janata (Democratic) pointed out the changes required in the approach to the agriculture sector. He emphasised the need for cultivating region-specific crops. It is important to follow successful models in view of the fact that there has been decline in the agricultural production during the past forty years. To revive the farm sector, it was necessary to combine science with local knowledge. Agriculture offices should be transformed to knowledge centres and agricultural officers should function as extension officers, he said.Former Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said it was important to switch over to organic farming as chemical fertilisers and pesticides were destroying the fertility of the soil aswell as the health of the farmers. He claimed that it was during his tenure as Agriculture minister that there wasincrease in productivity of paddy cultivation. Congress member V D Satheesan said that farmers should be given information on the hydrological cycle.All plantation crops except rubber were facing neglect. In view of the greater scope for horticultural crops in the state, Satheesan asked the Government to set up a Horticulture Board on the model of Rubber Board.Koliyakode Krishnan Nair of the CPM said that loan facility should be made available from NABARD to support agri-sector.NEW POSTING FLAYED Babu M Palisseri of CPM came down heavily on the government for creating a new post of Additional Director, Vigilance. He alleged that the posting was made to influence the Vigilance probe against the chief minister and ministers.
Comments
0 comment