Kerala to set up Paddy Board

Kannur, Dec 19 (UNI) Kerala Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran today said here a Paddy Board will be constituted for protecting paddy cultivation in the state.

The government was serious on the filling of paddy fields and stern action would be taken against this, he said at the Karimbam Agriculture Farm Centenary celebration.

He also said that rainwater harvesting was necessary and should be promoted for preserving water.

Mr Ratnakaran said the government would next year come up with special schemes for producing vegetables in the state. While the demand for vegetables was 12 lakh tonne, the produce in the state was just five lakh tonne, he said.

UNI AK PN GM 1928