Kerala Farmers Club adjudged best

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 27 (UNI) The 'Kakkayangad Farmers Club' in Kannur, promoted by the Kakkayangad branch of the North Malabar Gramin Bank, has been adjudged the best farmers club in the state for the third consecutive time by the NABARD.

The award was presented by Finance Minister P Chidambaram at a recent function in New Delhi.

The club, started in 1996, had been doing a yeomen service to the farming community in Mozhakunnu panchayat through a host of farmer-friendly initiatives like supply of inputs, collective marketing of the produce, soil testing, awareness programmes, facilitating technology transfer, study tours and organising interactive sessions with experts, a release said here today.

The club had also helped in forming Self-Help Groups in the panchayat. It had also taken the initiative to rid the Panchayat of Chikungunya.

Distribution of rice and other commodities to the poor in the tribal colonies was another move by the club.

The club had also relieved many debt-ridden farmers from the clutches of money lenders.

UNI PN SY KP1827