The Hindu : YF(M) to launch novel programme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

YF(M) to launch novel programme

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Feb. 10. The Youth Front (M) is launching a novel programme to harness youth power for the development of the agricultural sector in a big way.

Its president, Jose K. Mani, told newsmen here today that the programme would get under way with the creation of a development force of one lakh youth.

The organisation would identify persons who could set apart plots of 10 cents, 25 cents and 50 cents area respectively from among them and encourage cultivation in these plots.

It proposed to encourage the cultivation of vanila, medicinal plants and vegetables in these plots.

As 30,000 plots of ten cents each, 25,000 plots of 25 cents each and 10,000 plots of 50 cents each were proposed to be created, it would bring over 14,000 acres which was unutilised or underutilised now under scientific cultivation.

It would also provide employment to the 65,000 persons involved.

As the next step, the organisation would open farmers markets at the block level to procure, market and if possible even export the fruits of the youngsters' labour.

Simultaneously, the organisation proposed to set up youth clubs and encourage the cultivation of mulberry and silkworm through them. Mulberry cultivation would be undertaken in 5,000 plots of 50 cents each.

As each unit would provide employment to three persons, this scheme was expected to provide jobs to another 15,000 persons. Once this scheme takes off, it is expected to give a big boost to sericulture in the State.

Mr. Mani said that the services of the development force would also be used for planting trees. Each member of the force would be asked to plant five saplings. Some five lakh trees would thus be planted by March 2004.

As a prelude to the creation of the development force and the implementation of the development programme, the organisation proposed to organise a yathra from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram to take the development mantra to the people, he added.

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