Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)
Kasargod, Dec 10: "The availability of water has decreased due to scarcity of rain. People may have to wait in queues for water in the future, like the way they are waiting in front of banks and ATMs at present. Therefore rain water harvesting is essential," said union minister of agriculture Radha Mohan Singh.
He was speaking after inaugurating an international symposium on 'Coconut research and development' as part of centenary celebrations of Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasargod on Saturday, December 10.
"The union government will implement a project to ensure that water is made available at the place of cultivation," he added.
"The health cards that are being distributed to farmers should reach all beneficiaries. There were plans to distribute 7.05 lac cards to the farmers but only 1.33 lac cards could be distributed so far. The subsidy that is provided by the union government to the states should reach the beneficiaries," he stressed.
"Coconut farming is being encouraged by the government and it has been increasing steadily. Just as the white (milk) revolution, the union government has come forward to start a blue revolution (fish). The country has the capability to send space missions to the moon and Mars but 80% of the country is still not developed. Therefore, it is necessary to implement the projects of the union government quickly," he said.
The minister released a book on the centenary of CPCRI, achievements and coconut products.
Kerala minister of revenue, E Chandrashekaran, Uttara Kannada MP Anant Kumar Hegde, Kasargod MP P Karunakaran, MLA N A Nellikunnu, Campco president S R Sathischandra, CPCRI director Dr P Chowdappa, senior scientist Dr Muralidhar, K P Chandran, CPCRI director general Dr Nilochan Mahapatra, Mogral Puttur gram panchayat president A A Jaleel, agriculture officer V Pradeep Kumar and others were present.
An national-level exhibition relating to agriculture is being held as part of 'Kisan Mela' from Saturday, December 10 to December 13.