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KOCHI, June 6

THE Kerala-based Indian Farmers Movement (Infam) has suggested to the State Government that it should initiate steps for setting up a hill highway instead of the express highway.

Dr M.C. George, National Trustee of Infam, said that the general body meeting of the movement had called upon the State Government to put pressure on the Union Government to include the proposed hill highway in its Central infrastructure projects.

Such a highway would connect the State's spices growing area with the trading and industrial centres. Therefore, the State Government should give up the proposed express highway, which is not going to benefit the people, and instead concentrate on creating a hill highway.

He said conventions would be organised at Iritty in Kannur district, Mannarkkad in Palakkad district, Thodupuzha in Idukki district and Amburi in Thiruvanthapuram district to create awareness among the people about the importance of having a hill highway.

Besides, he said, the farmers are unaware of the fact that as per the WTO agreement only organically grown agricultural products could be traded after 2005. This situation necessitated a shift to organic farming at least three years before the deadline.

But, neither the scientists nor agri-experts nor the Government authorities had taken any steps to educate the farmers about this fact, he alleged. The Infam general body meeting had therefore, decided to conduct a workshop here soon besides launching of an Infam Organic Congress, he said.

It had also urged the Government to take immediate steps to restrict the import of black pepper from Sri Lanka.

The Infam alleged that under the disguise of Sri Lankan pepper, Vietnam pepper is being imported duty free and then exported as Indian pepper and this practice was tarnishing the image of the Indian product, ``which enjoys a premium position in the world market.''

Those spoke at the General body meeting included the Infam Chairman, Rev Mathew Vadakkemuri, Rev Antony Kozhuvanal, Dr M.C. George, Mr Joy John, Mr P.V. Elias and Mr M.V. Mathai.

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