All wastelands in Kerala to be used for farming

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 22 (PTI) As part of massive COVID-19 mitigation efforts in agriculture to make state self-sufficient, Kerala government on Wednesday anunced that all wastelands would be used for farming.

Kerala is a consumer state which depends on or states for food grains, fruits and vegetables.

On Wednesday, Earth Day, Chief Minister Pinaryi Vijayan and his family led state in this venture by planting tapioca at his official residence.

Chief Minister stressed need and importance of Kerala being self-sufficient in foodgrains, "so as to be prepared for any eventuality."

He said agriculture department and Local Self Government bodies would join hands to improve self-reliance and explore all possible ways to improve vegetable cultivation, using kitchen gardens, rooftop cultivation and community projects.

" wastelands in state will be utilised for farming.

If it is a private property, LSGs can use it for farming but ownership of property will remain with owner.

We need to ensure that land will lie unused in state," Vijayan said.

Chief Minister said state w has eugh food stocks and was in a comfortable position. However if current circumstances due to pandemic outbreak continued for long, government would have to start preparing for future and need big interventions in agriculture sector,

He said though re is smooth movement of food trucks, food security of Kerala in future depends on how disease affects rest of country, from where food is brought in.

"We should be able to increase production for our own consumption and reduce dependency on or states. We should be prepared to face any short or scarcity of food, Chief Minister said.

He said state needs to opt modern farming techniques and practices to have maximum produce from minimum area by opting m for regional needs.

"We need to increase rice cultivation to over 25,000 hectares in next two years. Cultivation of cereals, tuber crops, tapioca and plantain/banana should be increased to a larger area," Vijayan said.

Kerala requires 20 lakh tonnes of vegetables every year and this years production is 14.72 lakh tonnes.

Chief Minister exhorted youth to come forward and take up agriculture in a large way as state needs large scale interventions to increase output of foodgrains, fruits and vegetables.