Learn ABC of farming… in schools

 
The city Corporation has launched a school-level project to encourage students to take up vegetable cultivation and promote organic farming practices. Funded by State Bank of India, the pilot project is being implemented in 10 city schools with technical assistance from Krishi Bhavans under the Agriculture Department. The seeds are being supplied by the Kerala Horticulture Mission. The selected schools have already prepared vegetable gardens on five cents of land. The Parent Teacher Associations and Students Green Clubs there are being equipped for the project. The Agriculture Department is supplying seeds and 50 kg of organic manure to each school, free of cost. The PTA will provide workers and equipment needed to prepare the plant beds. Some schools selected for the project have also taken up banana cultivation. Minister for Agriculture Mullakara Retnakaran will inaugurate the project on Friday at the Pattom Government Girls Higher Secondary School. The Corporation has also chalked out a scheme to promote banana cultivation at the homestead level.

(The Hindu, July 20, 2007)