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Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram , March 6

IN view of the changes brought about under the aegis of the World Trade Organisation, Kerala must develop a new approach to agriculture, the Agriculture Minister, Ms K.R. Gouri Amma, said.

Speaking at a seminar on organic farming, organised by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala, in the city today, she emphasised that the State needs to evolve an agricultural strategy that ensures that farming becomes a profitable vocation.

Measures such as organic farming will help increase agricultural output while simultaneously ensuring that farmers get higher prices for their produce, she added.

She also suggested that the broadcast times of various agricultural programmes on television and radio be fixed in such a way as to enable more people to watch or listen to these programmes.

Mr Mathew C. Kunnumkal, Principal Secretary-Agriculture, Government of Kerala, said that organic farming has tremendous potential in Kerala. The agriculture department has even initiated steps to turn two districts — Idukki and Wayanad — into `organic districts', he pointed out.

Yet, organic farming has not really taken off in the State, he added. Hence greater efforts are required to create more awareness about organic farming and its benefits, he said.

According to officials of the Department of Agriculture, organic farming is a key focus area for the department. As part of its efforts to promote organic farming, the agriculture department is preparing a database of all organic farmers in the State.

Similarly, as part of its efforts to create more awareness about organic farming, the department plans to organise 200 training programmes across the State.

These training sessions will introduce participants to basic concepts in organic farming, give details of the various certification processes for organic produce and also touch on the various aspects of marketing organic produce.

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