CM calls for self-sufficiency in food products

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid concerns over high pesticide residues in vegetables arriving from outside the state, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Friday stressed the need for attaining self-sufficiency in food products and promoting organic farming.

Inaugurating state-level workshop on 'Safe Food Our Right' and media seminar here, he said self-sufficiency in food production should not just be conveyed through words but should be proved through efficient activities.

"We should strive forward to attain self sufficiency in all the foods that we consume. For this, activities through Grama Sabhas are necessary," he added.

He said ministers and officials should review the steps taken at ward level for stepping up production of vegetables.

In such type of farming, organic measures should be given priority. The recent events have created awareness among people regarding this, he said.

The workshop was organised in the backdrop of Maggie noodles controversy and findings that vegetables coming to the state from neighbouring states have higher levels of pesticide residues than the permissible level.

Taking a serious view of the pesticide residue in vegetables, Chandy had recently written to his counterparts in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to look into the issue.

Speaking at the workshop, State Health Minister V S Sivakumar said government would consider banning the advertisements of food products with 'poisonous' contents.

He also said government was taking steps to ensure that state gets 'poison-free' vegetables during the coming Onam festival season.

Giving details of the steps taken by the government in this regard, he said registration has been made mandatory for all vegetable traders in the state.

Vehicles carrying vegetables from other states would be monitored at the check-posts itself, he added.

State Minister for Food Anoop Javob and Commissioner of Food Safety T V Anupama were among those attended the event.