Kerala to expand organic veg cultivation

Thiruvananthapuram: With the objective of attaining self-sufficiency in terms of vegetables, Kerala government is planning to bring in additional 50,000 hectares of land under organic vegetable cultivation.

Addressing a press meet here, state Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar said the LDF government's plan is to expand farming by bringing in people of all sectors.

"The government's effort is to bring in additional 50,000 hectares of land under organic vegetable cultivation. Our aim is to attain self-sufficiency in terms of vegetables in the next three years," he said.

As part of the plan, the number of eco-shops selling organic farm products under the agriculture department would be increased, he said.

Horticorp outlets would be opened in districts where there is no such facility, the minister said, adding that at least two agriculture department clusters would be set up in each block.

(With agency inputs)