ALUVA: Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan has said that an agriculture zone will be formed in the state to ensure that the state becomes self-sustainable in vegetable production.At a meeting organised by the Aluva Press Forum here on Saturday, he said the government was committed to producing 60 per cent of the required vegetables in the state within a couple of years.Kerala depends on other states for vegetables, which often poses health hazards owing to excessive use of pesticides, he said.Stating that Malayalis should be given proper awareness on organic farming, Mohanan said the Agriculture Department would take initiatives to promote organic vegetables, organic pesticides and organic seeds.The benefits extended to the farmers and various agriculture schemes would be exhibited in agriculture offices, he added.The minister also stated that the conversion of paddy fields to residential and commercial complex by land mafias would be stopped.A data bank of the paddy fields in the state would soon be prepared, the minister said.Press Forum president S A Rajan presided over the meet.Vice-president Jossey P Andrews and joint secretary Renny George attended the function.Inaugurating the consortium building in Mookkannoor, Mohanan said that 50 per cent of the vacant posts in Krishi Bhavans would be filled within a month.He said Onam and Ramzan markets would be launched in September.On food production, he said the government plans to take steps to reduce the cost of cattlefeed without increasing the cost of milk.Steps will also be initiated to enhance egg production, the minister added.He urged the youth to take more interest in agriculture.Plantation Corporation The minister also visited the sixth block of Kallala Estate of the Plantation Corporation and offered to take steps to enhance the standard of life of the workers in the Kalady Group of the Plantation Corporation.Remarking that the workers are the main pillars of any establishment, he said, “The living conditions of the workers in Plantation Corporation are pitiable and it should be revived.” A high-level meeting of the officers and leaders of the employees would be held soon to finalise the action plan for the improvements of infrastructure and ensure the welfare of the employees.KAMCO The agriculture minister also visited the mini tractor project unit, a Rs 25 crore project and Tiller Assembly Unit at Kerala Agro Machinery Corporation (KAMCO) - a public sector unit under the Department of Agriculture - in Athani in Nedumbassery.He offered to extend more facilities for the development of the company and assured to provide various welfare measures for KAMCO employees.Mohanan gave instructions to provide food to the casual workers who had been working in the company for over 25 years from the company canteen at subsidised rates.The KAMCO management led by managing director S M Reghunath, KAMCO Employees Association (INTUC) leaders P P Radhakrishnan, K N Nazar, V E Devassy and Moncy George, KAMCO Casual Workers Union (INTUC) general-secretary C Y Sabore, Ittoop, Vikraman and Dhanesh received the minister.
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