more-in Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar on Thursday sought to allay fears over the recent amendment to the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act. Speaking after inaugurating the new office of the Kalady Krishi Bhavan at the mini civil station, the Minister said that those who were ignorant of the Act were opposing it. Mr. Sunilkumar said that the government was able to bring two lakh hectares under paddy farming and that efforts were under way to raise it to three lakh hectares by next year. The government is intent on bringing about scientific and modern changes in Krishi Bhavans across the State. Towards achieving this end, agro service centres would be set up in all blocks and activities of agriculture task forces would be coordinated under their aegis. Task forces would be extended financial assistance of up to ?10 lakh out of which ?9 lakh could be used for buying machinery and ?1 lakh for training. This, Mr. Sunilkumar said, would help to address the problems faced by farmers to a great extent. Task forces would be formed in all blocks by next year. Krishi Bhavans in Kerala have completed 30 years of service, the Minister said. With the setting up of a bhavan at Edamalakkudi, there was not a single panchayat without one in the State. Measures had been completed for setting up agro clinics alongside Krishi Bhavans. The aim is to set up agro clinics in 500 Krishi Bhavans this year, he added. All remaining Krishi Bhavans would be covered in two years. Mr. Sunilkumar said that soil health cards were being successfully given to farmers to avoid unnecessary usage of fertilizers while Njattuvela markets were being organised to re-establish the indigenous farming cycle of Malayalis. Agriculture sabhas were being conducted to bring farmers and officials closer and for better resolution of farming problems. Scientific restructuring of the farming sector was the objective of the government, Minister said. Roji M. John, MLA, presided over the event.

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