Thiruvananthapuram: As many as 248 students from schools across the State will participate in the first Children’s Agricultural Science Congress to be held here on Friday and Saturday under the auspices of the Indian Agriculture Association, Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA) and Agri Friends Forum. Organising committee chairman C.K. Peethamabaran and secretary S.K. Suresh told a press conference here on Monday that the students from Upper Primary, High School and Higher Secondary Schools would present research papers on agriculture and traditional knowledge in the farm sector. They would also highlight agricultural projects in schools and innovative experiments in farming. An agricultural exhibition and photography exhibition are part of the event.
Focal theme
The focal theme of the congress would be eco-friendly agriculture. The sub-themes identified for discussion are paddy farming, biodiversity of food crops and food security, organic farming and its potential, natural resource management, treatment of biodegradable waste, collection of traditional knowledge on agriculture, climate change, local varieties of fruits, dissemination of information on agriculture and homestead farming. Mr. Peethambaran said the objective of the two-day event was to create a society with a better understanding of, and love for, agriculture and a healthy respect for farmers. This, he said, was essential in the drive to achieve food security. The event would focus on generating interest among children in farming and agricultural research, publicising farming initiatives by children and schools and creating awareness of agricultural biodiversity and traditional knowledge. It would strive towards creating a school-level model for agricultural extension activities. The competitive events include presentation of research papers, school-level farming projects, poster exhibition and photo exhibition. Lectures by agricultural experts and an interaction with winners of agricultural awards are being organised. Agricultural researchers and students would participate in an agro clinic to be held as part of the event. A video presentation of agriculture and agricultural lessons for children are the other programmes.
Awards
Mr. Peethambaran said special awards would be given to the top two winners in each category, the best presentation of research paper and the schools winning the first and second positions. The ceremonial proclamation of the congress was held at Avanamkuzhy, Balaramapuram, where on a 30-cent plot Jibin Raj, a class 9 student of the Mutharamman Kovil High School, has successfully demonstrated integrated farming by cultivating amaranthus and banana and rearing a cow. The congress would be held at the auditorium of the public library. Mr. Peethambaran said a survey carried out by students had revealed scattered attempts at the school-level to popularise farming among children. Several schools had taken the initiative for horticulture and paddy farming and students had published papers and articles. The congress would provide a platform to share the experience gained from these initiatives, he added.
Source: The Hindu, Dated:19.01.2010
Focal theme
The focal theme of the congress would be eco-friendly agriculture. The sub-themes identified for discussion are paddy farming, biodiversity of food crops and food security, organic farming and its potential, natural resource management, treatment of biodegradable waste, collection of traditional knowledge on agriculture, climate change, local varieties of fruits, dissemination of information on agriculture and homestead farming. Mr. Peethambaran said the objective of the two-day event was to create a society with a better understanding of, and love for, agriculture and a healthy respect for farmers. This, he said, was essential in the drive to achieve food security. The event would focus on generating interest among children in farming and agricultural research, publicising farming initiatives by children and schools and creating awareness of agricultural biodiversity and traditional knowledge. It would strive towards creating a school-level model for agricultural extension activities. The competitive events include presentation of research papers, school-level farming projects, poster exhibition and photo exhibition. Lectures by agricultural experts and an interaction with winners of agricultural awards are being organised. Agricultural researchers and students would participate in an agro clinic to be held as part of the event. A video presentation of agriculture and agricultural lessons for children are the other programmes.
Awards
Mr. Peethambaran said special awards would be given to the top two winners in each category, the best presentation of research paper and the schools winning the first and second positions. The ceremonial proclamation of the congress was held at Avanamkuzhy, Balaramapuram, where on a 30-cent plot Jibin Raj, a class 9 student of the Mutharamman Kovil High School, has successfully demonstrated integrated farming by cultivating amaranthus and banana and rearing a cow. The congress would be held at the auditorium of the public library. Mr. Peethambaran said a survey carried out by students had revealed scattered attempts at the school-level to popularise farming among children. Several schools had taken the initiative for horticulture and paddy farming and students had published papers and articles. The congress would provide a platform to share the experience gained from these initiatives, he added.
Source: The Hindu, Dated:19.01.2010
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