Other states making rapid strides: CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The overdependency on neighbouring states for food grains will hamper the mission of the state to attain self-sufficiency in agricultural production, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Monday. He was inaugurating an all-India seminar and exhibition on ‘Recent trends in agricultural mechanisation for efficiency improvement’ organised by Institution of Engineers (India) in association with various government departments and educational institutions in the city. Chandy pointed out that all the other states were making rapid strides in all areas of agricultural production and marketing. They have attained this progress after moving over to sophisticated machineries and availing of expert opinion. This approach of farmers and entrepreneurs has made them self-sufficient in the case of food grains.   Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan, who presided over the function, said that seminars and similar attempts should benefit the agrarian society, which is reeling under an acute crisis in the state.  K Muraleedharan MLA inaugurated the exhibition stall. Institution of Engineers  (India) chairman  S Radhakrishnan, NABARD general manager K C Shashidhar and state agriculture engineer G Jayachandra also participated in the function.  The event coincided with the state-level launch of Mechanised Labour Bank (Agro Employment Force) under the aegis of Kerala Agro Industries Corporation  at  its office on Monday. K P Mohanan launched the bank. Mayor P Chandrika presided over the function.