Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Apr 17: Baikunja Shankarnarayana Bhat, a Kannadiga, has grown about 14 tonnes of ash gourd (winter melon) in his field. On account of lockdown, he has not been able to market them. After he gave this matter publicity through social media, Kerala agricultural minister V S Sunil Kumar, responded to his plight made known to him via tweet and promised to see that the vegetable grown by him is bought through Horticorp Kerala.

Horticorp is engaged in acquiring fresh, organic vegetables from farmers and providing the same at reasonable prices to the people.

Bhat has been engaged in raising several crops including coconut, areca nut, paddy etc. After harvesting paddy crop, he had grown ash gourd in his one-acre land. He also grows other vegetables like yum, ivy gourd etc.

Bhat was worried when the market shut down because of lockdown and Karnataka border with Kerala was closed. He, therefore, undertook campaign through social sites to sort out his problem.

Under instructions from the agricultural minister, Kasargod principal agricultural officer Sajini Mol, and other officers met Bhat and promised to buy all the ash gourds he has grown through Horticorp, on Saturday.