Govt to tighten Wetland Conservation Act

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M)-led LDF government Saturday decided to tighten the Kerala Conservation of Paddy and Wetland Act to check fast shrinking of paddy fields and decline in agricultural growth in the state.

State Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar said the government would initiate strict action against "filling of paddy fields for non-agricultural purposes."

The data bank of paddy fields in this regard would be published in the next six months, he said. "The agricultural growth of the state has been going down for the last 10 years. The decline of farming sector will create alarming situation in the economy and eco-system of the state," he told reporters here. As part of plans to enhance paddy production, barren lands across the state would be identified through mapping and steps would be taken to use them for farming, he said. "Action will also be taken to expand the upland paddy cultivation under the aegis of Krishi Bhavans," he said.

On organic farming, the minister said an action plan to make the state a completely organic state within 4-5 years is on the new ministrys anvil.