Curtain falls on VAIGA exhibition-cum-seminar

Creating more job opportunities is essential for future development of the State, Minister for Local Self-Governments A.C. Moideen said. He was addressing the valedictory of VAIGA (Value Addition for Income Generation in Agriculture) at Thekkinkadu maidan here on Sunday.

“As it is difficult to provide jobs for all in the public sector, we need to encourage entrepreneurship in various sectors for creating opportunities. The governed will do essential interventions for this. We need to develop more entrepreneurship in farm sector for the development of the State. Agriculture has a major role in post-flood reconstruction of Kerala,” he said.

He said the LDF government had given a new lease of life to the agriculture sector. The government has been actively intervening in various fields such as effective utilisation of land and water, mechanisation in farm sector, procurement of produces and increasing revenue of farmers. Coordination of various government departments is important for development of the farm sector, the Minister said.

Highlighting the involvement of Kudumbasree Mission and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers in enhancing agriculture production, the Minister said more than 50% of Kudumbashree Neighbourhood groups are involved in farming.

He said VAIGA can play a key role in rejuvenating the farm sector. The new ideas evolved from VAIGA can lead to more innovative experiments, he added. Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar presided.

Minister for Animal Husbandry K. Raju inaugurated a website of the Agriculture Department prepared by C-DIT and new software developed by the NIC (National Informatics Centre).

State farm awards

The Minister distributed the State Agriculture Awards. Biji Mol (Peeumedu MLA) received the award for best Assembly constituency in organic farming. K. Rajan (Ollur MLA) received second prize. Vypin got the third prize. Thrissur Corporation Mayor Ajitha Vijayan received the award for best Corporation.

Mr. Moideen also released the study report and soil app of the Soil and Survey Department. He inaugurated the online portal of Vegetable and Fruits Promotion Council. Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan visited the VAIGA pavilions on the concluding day.