The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prof K.V. Thomas, said the Government would take steps to modernise the Maradu market with a Central investment of Rs 150 crore.

Details in this regard would be chalked out at the meeting convened by the Chief Minister on September 19 and the market would have facilities such as temperature-controlled warehousing facilities, godowns and cold storage facilities, the Minister said at a function to mark the launch of the five-day ‘Haritholsavam 2011' at the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market at Maradu.

The Union Government, he said, has also taken steps to release 54,000 tonnes of rice and 27,000 tonnes of wheat at subsidised rates as ‘Onam' gifts for Kerala.

Haritholsavam 2011 begins

The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, who inaugurated the Haritholsavam 2011 said steps would be taken to promote cultivation at the Kole fields of Thrissur and Ponnani areas, along the lines of Idukki and Kuttanad . To continue Haritholsavam in future, he said the State Government has allocated Rs 25lakh towards establishing a society for organising the annual agri-horti festival.

Dr M. S. Swaminathan, who was present at the function, said the State needed an agricultural policy that balanced conservation of soil and bio diversity and made farming economically sustainable to the farmer. The State had good potential for the development of agriculture.

The advancement achieved in milk production through improving the processing and marketing network should be replicated to improve the condition of agriculture, he said.

He pointed out that the country would be producing over 300 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables by 2015. The focus fruit this year is banana and a bunch of bananas weighing 50 kg was the main attraction of the fest. The festival will be on till September 7.

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